IIM-A trying its best to implement faculty quota: Director

Ahmedabad: Amid reports that Union HRD Ministry wants all Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to implement provision of reservation for faculty recruitments, IIM-Ahmedabad on Friday said it is trying its best to induct people from the weaker sections in teaching posts.

Commenting on reports that the Ministry has asked IIMs to fulfill their constitutional obligations by implementing quota system, the city-based top business school's Director Ashish Nanda told reporters it was a mere suggestion and no orders have been issued.

"MHRD has not ordered us to fulfill obligations. They only asked us that we should try to invite people from all walks of life, especially the weaker sections (for teaching posts). We told them we are already doing it and we will re-double our efforts," Nanda said.

"We (IIM-A) are and we will try our best (to implement quota)," he said at a press conference. The press meet was called to announce a project regarding restoration and upgradation of Vikram Sarabhai Library at the management institute's campus.

Amid a raging debate on the issue of reservation for faculty in the IIMs, the HRD Ministry had yesterday said constitutional provisions are supreme, apparently indicating these management schools should also enforce them.

Meanwhile, the IIMA Board, at its meeting today, approved a panel of three new names suggested by a Search Committee for the post of IIM-A Chairman, which is lying vacant since L&T Group Chairman A M Naik stepped down on December 31 last year, two years before the end of his tenure.

In May, MHRD had rejected three names forwarded by IIM Ahmedabad administration for the position and sought a list of new candidates.

"The Search Committee again submitted three names to the Board in the meeting. The Board has given its approval on these names. I am not aware if the list has been sent to MHRD yet," said Nanda, who declined to reveal the names.