IIMs: Bill reduces us to operating centres

Sources said that the HRD ministry may delete subsection (1) of Section 36 of the draft bill which states that the IIM “board may, with the approval of the Central government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with this act and rules made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this act”.

The IIMs also want Section 35 removed as it was not discussed with them. This empowers the Centre, among other things, to “make rules for carrying out the provisions of this (IIM) Act”.

A number of IIMs, led by IIM Ahmedabad, had criticised the government over the draft bill, saying this would not only curtail their autonomy but reduce the IIMs to a mere “operating centre”, while arming the government with sweeping powers.

“We are deeply concerned that some provisions of the bill would seriously compromise the autonomy of the institute.

“We believe this is an important bill for the future of management education and therefore requires critical review to ensure an optimal balance between autonomy and accountability of the institution,” IIM-Ahmedabad chairperson A.M. Naik said in a letter to human resources development minister Smriti Irani.