IITs decide to ignore sub-quota

It’s a move that could jeopardise chances of 325 minority candidates shortlisted under the 4.5 per cent sub-quota to make it to the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). On Thursday, the IITs announced that they would “ignore” the 4.5 per cent sub-quota and implement the Andhra Pradesh High Court order that scrapped it earlier this week.

“In the absence of any further legal development/ information from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) before 13th June 2012, the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court will be implemented by ignoring the provision for reservation of 4.5 per cent seats and by converting seats meant for OBC (NCL)-Minority community to OBC (NCL) category. Therefore, all the shortlisted candidates are advised to note that availability of 4.5 per cent reservation for OBC (NCL)-Minority shall depend on the legal developments till 13th June and hence they may register the choice of courses accordingly,” the IIT advisory told all quota students.

The IITs had to make this move as they would on June 13 finally announce and allocate all their seats for JEE 2012. With no firm direction from the ministry on how to handle the 4.5 per cent minority sub-quota issue and little hope of a legal resolution within a fortnight, the IITs have decided to prepare for both possible situations — of the Supreme Court setting aside the HC judgment or of reinforcing it.

However, in an attempt to give a chance to minority students shortlisted in JEE 2012, the Joint Entrance Examination Organising chairman G B Reddy has advised that these students opt for as many course choices as they can during the ongoing counselling to secure a seat. A student can indicate a maximum of 215 choices from courses on offer across 15 IITs.

The IITs hint that in case the Andhra HC order is stayed or overturned, the minority sub-quota students will automatically be allocated seats as per the first choice of course indicated. However, in the event of an unfavourable verdict and the 4.5 per cent quota collapsing back into its parent 27 per cent OBC quota, the minority candidates may have a slim chance.

Source: The Indian Express, June 1, 2012