Lucknow- The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow is under scrutiny for failing to adhere to the mandated reservation policies concerning faculty appointments, as highlighted in a recent RTI response. The revelations have ignited a conversation around the persistent inequalities in India's premier educational institutions, particularly regarding the representation of OBC, SC, ST, and EWS candidates.

The RTI application submitted by Gowd Kiran Kumar, the National President of the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), exposed alarming statistics about the faculty positions allocated across various categories. The institution currently holds a total allocated strength of 103 faculty positions, with a significant majority filled by General Category candidates:

• General Category: 88 (85.43%)

• OBC: 3 (2.9%)

• SC: 2 (1.9%)

• ST: 0 (0%)

• EWS: 0

This leaves vacant positions that further illustrate the disparity:

• OBC: 1

• SC: 1

• ST: 2

• General: 6

The numbers reveal an unsettling picture: only a tiny fraction of faculty roles are occupied by individuals from marginalized communities, raising questions about IIM Lucknow's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Speaking to The Mooknayak about the series of RTIs filed, Kiran Kumar Gowd stated, “My recent RTI activism on diversity and inclusion in IITs and IIMs has revealed both interesting and alarming information. There is a significant lack of diversity and inclusion in these premier institutions, which is not acceptable.”

He emphasized, “The representation of SC, ST, and OBC communities in IITs and IIMs must improve to uphold Constitutional provisions and foster greater diversity and inclusion.”

Gowd mentioned that they have received replies from around 10 IITs and IIMs and are awaiting responses from others. “We have already represented the issue to the Union Education Minister, who is well aware of the facts. The Government must take immediate corrective measures to enhance diversity and inclusion in these institutions. The leaders of opposition parties must also raise this issue in Parliament. Otherwise, we will protest democratically against this injustice.”

Cases at IIM Indore and Tiruchirapalli

The situation is not isolated to IIM Lucknow. Recent RTI findings from IIM Indore and IIM Tiruchirapalli further underscore the systemic failures in faculty recruitment across these institutions.

At IIM Indore, out of 150 sanctioned faculty positions, a staggering 41 remain vacant, with no appointments made from SC or ST categories and only 2 from OBC backgrounds. Additionally, just one faculty member from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) has been recruited.

The alarming statistics continue at IIM Tiruchirapalli, where a shocking 83.33% of OBC, 86.66% of SC, and 100% of ST faculty positions are vacant, even though all General Category positions have been filled. This glaring disparity paints a troubling picture of exclusion within India’s leading management institutions.

The revelations have sparked outrage among civil society groups and student organizations, who are voicing their concerns about the gross violation of social justice principles.

Bahujan rights activist Anil Wagde argue that the ongoing underrepresentation of marginalized communities in faculty roles not only violates constitutional guarantees but also undermines the educational aspirations of these historically marginalized groups. The reluctance to appoint faculty from OBC, SC, and ST categories reflects a deeper, systemic issue of caste-based discrimination that continues to permeate academic institutions.

Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad, along with MP Nagina, too raised serious concerns regarding the ongoing obstruction in the recruitment of reserved faculty positions at various Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), asserting that this constitutes a blatant violation of the rights of marginalized communities.

He described the situation as an usurpation of constitutional rights and a plunder of the reservation system designed to uplift the exploited and deprived sections of society. Azad urged the Supreme Court of India to take cognizance of this "unconstitutional classification" occurring in the recruitment processes for these reserved posts. He also called on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, emphasizing that while he does not expect him to uphold the principles of social justice, he should at least respect the reservations mandated by the Indian Constitution during recruitment.

The lack of diversity among faculty members at IIMs poses significant implications for the quality of education and the representation of varied perspectives in management studies. Affirmative action policies are designed to bridge the socio-economic divide, yet the persistent exclusion of marginalized communities signals an urgent need for reform.

The continued failure to address these disparities highlights the need for institutional accountability. As IIMs are supposed to lead by example in fostering inclusion and equal opportunity, the stark reality of these statistics raises serious concerns about their commitment to these ideals.