Constitutional provisions supreme: HRD min on reservation for

Amid a raging debate on the issue of reservation for faculty in the IIMs, HRD ministry has said that constitutional provisions are supreme, apparently indicating these management schools should also enforce them.
"Everyone is aware of the provisions in the Constitution on this issue. The Constitutional provisions are supreme," a senior HRD ministry functionary said when asked about the issue of reservation in faculty positions in IIMs.
It is learnt that some of the IIMs, especially the older ones like at Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai do not strictly provide quotas in teaching faculty.
"As per a DoPT circular, some technical institutions have been exempted from providing reservation. Some of the IIMs have also been citing the circular," a source said.

Sources said that as far as HRD ministry is concerned, there is a view that the constitutional provisions should be held supreme adding that provisions for reservation are there in the Constitution.
It is learnt that there are enabling provisions for providing reservation in the draft IIM Bill, which the ministry intends to bring in the Parliament soon.