NEW DELHI: The dominant view in many IIMs is that the only way to resolve the demand for reservations in faculties in the premier institutes could be through the withdrawal of the 1975 HRD ministry order that exempted them from having quotas.

One IIM director said, "We are bound by the 1975 order. There has been no other order from HRD ministry invalidating exemption from reservation to SCs/STs/OBCs." He said, the 1975 order was first issued in 1974 for School of Planning & Architecture giving it exemption from reservation in teaching jobs. The order said SPA being a technical education institute, it is being allowed an exemption.
"It is for the HRD ministry to find out how an order meant for technical institutes was extended to IIMs that were management institutes," one IIM director said putting the blame on the ministry for creating confusion. In 1975, an exemption was given to IIM Ahmedabad and soon other IIMs adopted it.
IIM directors also point out that withdrawal of 1975 order cannot be done in haste. "If the order was issued after a Cabinet decision, then HRD will have to seek Cabinet approval. It is not going to be easy," one director said, adding that it also needs to be found out what was the policy before 1975. Even if the proposed IIM bill allows reservation in faculty jobs, the earlier order has to be withdrawn, points out an IIM director.
On its part, HRD ministry is maintaining silence. "Our strategy will be known soon," one official said.