New Delhi, Aug. 29: After the IIT Council approved creation of supernumerary seats to increase female enrolment in the tech schools from the current 8 per cent, a government order has left the institutes confused about its implementation.

The order by the human resource development ministry to IITs on July 13, 2017, said the IIT Council has decided to increase female enrolment in the institutes from the current 8 per cent to 14 per cent in 2018-19, 17 per cent in 2019-20 and 20 per cent in 2020-21.

It has a provision allowing a girl who has already got a seat to opt for another preferred seat created under the supernumerary category. But the order does not clarify whether the vacant seat would go to the next meritorious girl student or the next meritorious student irrespective of gender.

"Any female candidate who would have got a seat prior to this scheme will get the same or a more preferred seat with this scheme," said the order issued by Tripti Gurha, a director in the HRD ministry.

Three IIT directors said they would approach the ministry for a clarification.

"We have to seek clarification on this point. There is still 10 months' time," said an IIT director.

IIT Ropar director Sarit K. Das said it appears the IITs could create supernumerary seats after completion of merit-based gender-neutral admission.

"Suppose a girl candidate has got computer science branch in IIT Ropar. If she stands a chance under supernumerary seat in IIT Delhi, she will be able to move. The vacant seat would go to a female candidate," Das said.

However, a senior HRD ministry official said girls may be treated as a different category and may not be part of the usual gender-neutral merit-based admission process.