M A I N   N E W S

IIM-A maintains ‘status quo’ on fee
Revision only after talks with ministry

Ahmedabad, April 3
Highlighting “cordial dialogue” with the Union HRD Ministry as the “solution” to the fee-cut and autonomy issues, the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) decided to “maintain a status quo in its fee structure for the fresh batch” and said it “will consider a revision only after the talks are held.”

When asked if the status quo meant that they were going against the HRD Ministry’s instruction to slash fee, Chairman of the IIM-A Board of Governors and Infosys chief N. R Narayana Murthy, evading a direct reply, told reporters that there would be status quo on the fee structure and “a revision will be considered only after talks are held with the ministry.”

Mr Murthy said “the Board of Governors that met today did not discuss the PIL filed before the Supreme Court or details about the IIMs being asked to be a party to it. We do not know what will be the decision but will hold talks with the ministry first.”

“Maintaining the status quo will mean that the fee structure of Rs 1.58 lakh will remain the same. Talks will be on with the HRD Ministry, there is a PIL and based on the outcome of these events, the board will consider revision,” Mr Murthy said.

The IIM-A Chairman also categorically denied reports that “a fee-hike was suggested during the society’s meet that took place yesterday in his presence.”

However, two government representatives did not attend the meeting. The IIM-A Society had yesterday unanimously “authorised the Chairman to make a decision on the fee-structure and also the possible legal course of action that the IIM will take if the discussion with the government make no headway.”

Mr Murthy said yesterday “a committee will be formed that will initiate dialogue with the government at the earliest.”

Regarding the hike in the amount in the Need-Based Scholarships, IIM-A Director Bakul Dholakia said: “The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee will work out the exact packages to be offered to the needy students....The students belonging to lower income groups and the process of identifying such students and defining their requirements will be made along with the offer of admission itself.”

He said by June 1, the IIM-A would know how many students had applied for scholarships and of what amount and by June 10, the Admissions Committee would decide the exact amount of scholarships to be disbursed.

NEW DELHI: The government deferred comment on a move by IIM-A to disregard its decision slashing students’ fees from Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 30,000 a year.

“We can comment only after we receive and study their communication, especially as the matter has also been in the court,” a senior official of the Human Resource Development Ministry said.

Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, avoided taking any stand on the contentious fee-cut issue, but said a final decision would be taken by April 8 when the Supreme Court would give its verdict in the matter. — PTI, UNI