CAT group to discuss fallout of SC stay order on OBC quota

Ahmedabad, Mar 29 (UNI) Chairman of Admission Committees of all the six Indian Institute Managements (IIMs) will meet before April 12 to review the admission procedures in the light of the Supreme Court decision on OBC quota.

They are expected to re-draw the procedure as the apex court had stayed the operation of the Government's order on the OBCs reservations.

Replying to queries at a press conference, IIM-Ahmedabad Director Bakul Dholakia said that the Human Resources Ministry has not yet communicated any decision on today's developments.

He asserted that the admissions will take place as per schedule and the final list of selected candidates will be out on April 12.

However, sources in the IIM said that there will be no increase in the number of seats this year and only 250 selected students will be admitted this year. ''As the Supreme Court has posted hearing in the matter in August, any interim increase in the number of seats would amount to contempt of court,'' they said.

As per the earlier plans, IIM-A had increased the number of seats by 12 percent to 280, of which six per cent was for OBCs students (which amounted to 17 OBC seats).

The IIM has already called 55 OBCs students under the earlier planned quota.

Dr Dholakia said the IIM-A had planned to implement the government's OBCs quota scheme in phases but if no student was taken under OBCs scheme, there will be no increase in the number of seats.

He asserted that admisssion process will be completed in time and classes will commence in June, 2007.

UNI