IIM Controversy Takes New Turn

IIM Controversy Takes New Turn

As per the 5th Feb'04 decision, the ministry had decided to drastically reduce the fees for the PG programmes in the IIMs to Rs. 30,000/- per annum from the original fees of Rs. 1,50,000/- per annum. The ministry had said that this decision has been taken after considering the recent Supreme Court order and the recommendations of the U. R. Rao Review Committee which went into the issue.

Later a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court three Petitioners - Advocate Sandeep Parekh and two IIM graduates, Saiket Sengupta and Anish Mathew - challenging the Union HRD ministry's decision to reduce the fee-structure of IIMs drastically, alleging that it was a done to gain control over these institutions.

With respect to this PIL and in continuation of the last hearing on 12th March 04, the apex court heard the application for modification of the order of the court dated 27th Feb'04. This application points out that despite two undertakings being given in open court, they were not reflected in the order of 27th Feb'04 and that they should form part of the order - accordingly, the order of 27th Feb'04 should be clarified/ modified. And that if the undertakings were not clearly forthcoming from the Ministry, then the Writ Petition should be restored and heard on merits.

The lawyer for the government, on last hearing, sought more time to clarify its position on the oral undertakings made by them on 27th Feb'04, preserving autonomy and also guaranteeing to meet the shortfall arising out of the fee cut.

The issue took a new turn today when the government lawyer refused to give any undertaking whatsoever. Therefore, the three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising of Chief Justice V. N. Khare, Justice S. B. Sinha and Justice S. H. Kapadia recalled the order of 27th Feb'04 and revived the main Writ Petition for hearing on its merits. Also the order of 16th Feb'04 asking Petitioners to furnish documents will also stand revived. The Court also observed that the Petitioners were at liberty to implead the IIMs as parties and can move an application to that effect. The issue would come up for hearing on the 8th April'04 now.