The Hindu Business Line : IIMA Society meeting strikes conciliatory note

THE Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) Society that met here on Friday has resolved to take a conciliatory approach with the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on the twin issues of autonomy and fee cut.

The IIMA Society meeting, with the Chairman of the IIMA Board of Governors, Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy, in chair, was expected to be a tense affair following the rancour generated at its last meeting on March 9. Instead, the meeting went off rather smoothly as the IIMA Society decided to take a conciliatory path by seeking to sort out the major outstanding issues with the Ministry of HRD before taking recourse to any legal action.

Significantly, the two Ministry representatives, who threatened the IIMA Society and the Board of Governors with dismissal during the last meeting — the Joint Secretary, Mr V.S. Pandey, and the Financial Adviser, Mr V. Piparsania — were not present today.

Mr Narayana Murthy refused to comment on the acrimonious scenes that were witnessed at the last meeting of the IIMA Society and said the stress would be on creating a cordial atmosphere between the two parties. Taking legal recourse would be the last option for the IIMA as the initial attempt would be to sort out the matter with the Ministry in an amicable manner, he said.

"A committee is being set up to approach the Ministry for talks. This should take place very soon. We want to strictly follow the route of dialogue before considering any legal action. It would be a privilege to have other IIMs join us in these talks with the HRD Ministry but that decision rests with them," Mr Murthy said while addressing a press conference following the Society meeting.

However, the Society proposed to protect its turf as and when necessary by authorising the Chairman to take whatever action it was deemed fit on the issue of autonomy, of which fee cut seen as one facet: "Resolved that the Board of Governors be authorised to initiate the process of dialogue and discussion with the Ministry of HRD to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to the problem arising out of the Government Order dated February 5, 2004 regarding the revision of fees charged by IIMs.

Also resolved that the Chairman of the Society or his nominees be authorised to take all necessary actions in this regard including appropriate legal recourse at any stage to protect the autonomy of the IIMA including its right to determine the fees and other charges for the post-graduate programmes".

The Society also resolved that there was scope to further broaden the ambit of IIMA's Need Based Scholarship (NBS) to benefit the financially weaker students at the institute, thus addressing the issue of social equity — the central argument in favour of the fee cut. The Board of Governors were authorised to take necessary steps to implement this project as well as mobilise the requisite funds.

Meanwhile, a decision regarding the IIM becoming a party to the PIL pending at the Supreme Court is expected to be taken at the IIMA Board meeting on Saturday.

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