This Article is From Jun 30, 2015

Government in Talks with All Stakeholders on IIM Draft Bill, Decision Expected Soon

Government in Talks with All Stakeholders on IIM Draft Bill, Decision Expected Soon

File photo of Union Human Resources Minister Smriti Irani

New Delhi: The controversial Draft Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bill that seeks to curtail autonomy of the IIMs is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of parliament by the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, say sources.

The decision will be taken at the highest level within the next few days, even as the government faces criticism from the opposition for interfering in the functioning of educational institutions, according to sources. The ministry is trying to convince all stakeholders on certain portions of the bill and their views were being considered.

According to IIMs there are several clauses that threaten to infringe on their autonomy.

"If the bill turns out to be that a lot of decisions by the boards are subject to government approval, and the government has uniform norms, then that may or may not be best thing for certain IIMs," said IIM Bangalore Director Sushil Vachani.

IIM Ahmedabad director Ashish Nanda has called it an erosion of autonomy, fearing it could be used as a tool to 'micro-manage the Indian Institute of Management'.

Besides IIM-A, directors of Kolkata, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Indore have opposed the bill while chiefs of some of the new IIMs have supported it.

The draft bill says, "Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Institute (IIMs) shall, for efficient administration of this Act, be bound by such directions on questions of policy, as the Central Government may give in writing to it from time to time".

The statement also said that "The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not, shall be final' and "grants power to the Central Government to make rules that supersede the Board."

It also states that the IIMs will need the approval of the Ministry before notifying any changes in fee structure, salary and remuneration and admission criteria.

The bill also provides for constitution of a co-ordination forum chaired by the HRD minister.
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