Delhi HC criticises IIM-Shillong for not filling 26 seats, causing loss of Rs. 2.5
crore
The Delhi high court expressed dismay over premier educational
institutes not being serious about filling a large number of reserved seats and
thereby denying quality education to deserving students. In one of its orders, the
court observed that vacant seats in institutes like the Indian Institute of Management
(IIM) resulted in a loss to the nation as they get huge government aid every year
to churn out bright graduates.
The court's observation came on a petition filed by student Rajat Goel who qualified
for the Common Aptitude Test for 2011-2013 with 94.16 per cent, but could not secure
a seat in IIM-Shillong despite being fourth on the waiting list in the general category.
There were no seats in the general category and he could not get admission through
the reserved category because of the stringent policy of the IIMs. Goel claimed
that the institute gave admission to only 94 students and wasted 26 seats last year,
causing a loss of Rs. 2.5 crore.
"This court severely condemns the unsavoury and unpalatable practice of
not filling the vacant seats with the admonition that in future, its conduct in
this regard should not be dubitable," the court observed in its order. "In the time
of cut-throat competition, every seat can make or mar the life of a student." "The
approach of the IIM of not filling all 120 seats for the post-graduate programme
in management course for 2011-2013 is whimsical and capricious to say the least.
It is not expected of such a highly reputed educational institute to act in an arbitrary
manner," said justice Kailash Gambhir. The court, however, declined to give relief
to the petitioner as he had missed classes for six months to fight his case.
Courtesy: DNA India
