New Delhi: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, has asserted that neither the Constitution nor any law envisages reservation in highly specialised courses and has defended its refusal of a quota in a research programme that seeks candidates with "intellectual curiosity".

The views of the leading B-school were expressed through an affidavit filed in Gujarat High Court in March. The IIM had opposed a public interest plea seeking reservation in the Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), which is the doctoral course of the institute.

The Global IIM Alumni Network, a newly formed outfit fighting for the cause of social justice in B-schools, has filed the PIL.

Since the launch of the FPM in 1971, IIM Ahmedabad has not offered reservation in the programme. So far 349 doctoral students have graduated from the IIM.

The stand taken by the IIM has drawn stinging criticism from the network and votaries of social justice who say the "elitist institution wants to deny social justice".

"It may kindly be appreciated that neither the Constitution of India nor any law envisages reservation for courses/programme at high level of specialisation. Even the candidates from reserved category, by the time they reach the stage of applying for programme such as FPM, would have had the benefit of reservation policy in education at graduation and PG (specialisation) level courses. Therefore the law does not mandate any further reservation in high-level specialisation programmes," said the affidavit filed in court by IIM Ahmedabad director Errol D'Souza.

D'Souza argued that for the FPM the IIM seeks candidates with outstanding academic background, intellectual curiosity and discipline needed to make scholarly contribution.

P.S. Krishnan, who retired as secretary in the welfare ministry and is an expert on issues of social justice, termed the IIM's views an expression of "arrogance" that is "anti-Constitution and anti-national".

"The statement that students having intellectual curiosity are admitted is intellectually arrogant. This attitude of elitism has impeded the progress of India at the optimal pace," Krishnan said.

He said no central government institution or any course offered by them is exempted from reservation.

Anil Wagde, a member of the Global IIM Alumni Network, said IIM Ahmedabad's stand appeared unfounded since IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow had already decided to implement reservation in their FPM programmes. A few others, including IIM Calcutta, are planning to introduce a quota in the FPM courses next year.

"IIM Ahmedabad has no respect for the constitutional spirit of social justice. Other IIMs are giving reservation in the fellow programme. The stand taken by IIM Ahmedabad is a violation of the law," Wagde said.

IIM Ahmedabad's affidavit said that the Global IIM Alumni Network was an unrecognised association. It also said that the IIM does not receive any financial grant from the government and therefore was not a government-funded institute. It stated that the funds are generated from internal resources.

However, Krishnan contested this. "IIM Ahmedabad may have become self-sufficient now, but it remains a government institute. It got land and initial grants and funds from the government."

IIM Ahmedabad offers reservation in its postgraduate programme (PGP). The institute said the FPM was strongly committed to preparing thought leaders both for the academic and the corporate world. The FPM prepares students for a career in academia or research positions in industry.

Students have to do two years of course work. After its completion they have to pass an area comprehensive examination to demonstrate that they have reached a level of proficiency in their area of specialisation. Subsequently students work on their doctoral thesis.

From 2008 to 2017 the intake of students in the FPM programme has been between 12 and 27 a year.

"FPM is not like a regular programme at any university where certain seats are fixed and they are filled by regular tests. There are no fixed numbers of seats for the FPM course at IIM Ahmedabad.... Without fixed seats, it is impossible to provide for reservation of fixed seats for any category of social strata," the affidavit said.