The IITs so far had claimed that they have been granted exemption from reserving faculty positions. MHRD sources, however, say that the IITs have been violating regulations so far. "They have never been granted exemption from quotas for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and Other Backward Classes.

They have just been skirting the issue for a long time," said a source from MHRD. The IITs, hence, will have to implement the quotas in all future appointments. The decision was taken at a meeting of the IIT standing committee in May where the government was of the view the institutes will have to enforce quotas with immediate effect.

The government had introduced 22.5 per cent reservation in administrative jobs at the IITs for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes following amendments to the Constitution in 1951.

Based on the recommendations of the Mandal Commission report, the quota was extended by 27 per cent in the early 90s to cover the Other Backward Classes.