Ahmedabad: Confrontation seems to be on the cards between the Indian Institutes of Management and the Union human resources development ministry over the contentious draft IIM bill, which was put up for public consultation by the ministry.
The institute is worried about retaining its autonomy - with clauses 35 and 36 of the bill apparently taking away the powers vested with the board of governors.
IIM, Ahmedabad director Asish Nanda told NDTV that the institute has submitted its objections to the ministry. "Hopefully, our concerns will be taken into account," he said.
The IIMs maintain that the draft bill grants the Centre powers to override the Board, which will need the approval of the ministry before effecting changes in fee structure, salary, admission criteria and even scholarships and fellowships. There are apprehensions that the provisions of the two clauses will reduce the board of governors to cipher, a mere recommendatory body.
"The changes may seem small but they have massive impact on autonomy," Dr Nanda said. The issue was even discussed at the board of governors' meeting at the IIM Ahmedabad.
The institutes also say the two clauses were not part of the version drafted in 2014 which the IIMs had agreed on during a meeting with the HRD ministry.
The provisions of the bill also seek to bring into its ambit other business schools, which, the critics say, will also dilute the special status enjoyed by the IIMs.
The institutes of management, known globally for their excellence, have been vocal about the change. "Each of the other IIMs have gone through the bill... and there is unanimity that it will severely impact the autonomy of the institutes," said Dr Nanda.
The institutes are now hoping that their reservations will be taken into account by the ministry as the refusal to do so could result in a major confrontation.