The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad has finally agreed to implement the SC/ST and OBC reservation policy in its doctoral program after resisting it for two years. This decision was made in response to a PIL filed by the Global IIM Alumni Network, advocating for candidates from scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, other backward classes, and persons with disabilities.
The institute informed the court about its intention to implement the reservation policy, although the timeline for its implementation was not specified in the affidavit. The modalities for its implementation are currently under development.
The petitioner highlighted that 15 out of 20 IIMs in the country already provide reservation benefits in similar doctoral programs, while IIMA’s program, established in 1971, lacked such a policy. Section 3 of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, supports the provision of reservations in central institutes.
In an earlier opposition to the PIL, IIMA had argued that its globally recognized doctoral program should not be subject to a reservation policy, as it could be counterproductive and potentially unjust to other deserving students. The institute also pointed out that candidates from reserved categories had already benefited from quota policies in their earlier education.