The Indian Institutes of Management are between the devil and the deep blue sea in regards to the admissions in the current academic session. On the one hand, IIMs face the wrath of HRD Ministry if they do go ahead with the admissions without quota and on the other; the students are getting restless with the uncertainty over their futures.

However, in a strongest signal yet, IIM-A Director, Bakul Dholakia, in an interview, indicated that IIMs might eventually go ahead with the admissions without implementing the 27 per cent based reservations, this academic year. When asked about the implementation of quota, he said:

That question can be answered by the order of the Supreme Court.

Dholakia commented in the aftermath of the rejection of Central Government’s plea for vacation of stay on the issue of reservations, by the apex court. He also added:

We (IIMs) will talk to each other, if not by tonight then by tomorrow, since we have generally taken such decisions together. We are awaiting official communication on the Supreme Court verdict from the HRD Ministry. Once we receive the communication, we will decide when to release the final admission list.

Officials at the other IIMs have echoed similar views. IIM-B Director, Dr. P G Apte said:

We are waiting for official communication and confirmation from government. We hope to get their clearance in next two or three days. Only then will we release our final admission list.

The IIMs had earlier deferred their admission process after the Supreme Court had stayed the 27 per cent quota for OBC students on March 29. On Monday, the apex court had rejected the Government’s plea to vacate the stay, thereby resting the case, at least this academic session. The Court will determine the constitutional validity of reservations in August this year.

The IIMs are keen to take a quick decision on the admission lists so that the students are given ample time for accepting the offer letter. Earlier, students were given a period of up to three weeks to decide. This year, though, the period might be reduced. Dholakia has said that there is a possibility that students might be given a deadline of a week or ten days so that there is no further delay in admissions.

Source: hindustantimes