New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, (IIT-Delhi) may be heading for a messy quota controversy.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has sought an explanation from the director of the institute after 12 undergraduate SC/ST students were asked to leave because of poor performance.

The 12 students have told the commission they were discriminated against and instead of being given special coaching they were asked to attend extra curricular activities.

A student has alleged that a professor at the institute told him said he wasn't doing well in his studies because he was from the SC/ST category.

“We will investigate the students’ allegations and then make a decision,” said Buta Singh, chairperson of the SC/ST Commission.