The Hindu : National : IIM-Bangalore too against fee cut

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Friday, Apr 16, 2004

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National

IIM-Bangalore too against fee cut

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 15. The Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore too opposes the "unilateral" and "arbitrary" decision of the Union Human Resource Development Ministry to reduce the fees of the six IIMs in the country from Rs. 1.5 lakhs to Rs. 30,000 a year.

The IIM-Ahmedabad and the Faculty Council of the IIM-Calcutta had filed similar affidavits assailing the fee cut and the Supreme Court is to hear tomorrow the case.

In an affidavit by the Director, IIM-B, Prof. Prakash Apte, submitted that a reduction in the fees across the board without any intelligible rationale was highly suspect. The institute was not opposed to targeted subsidy/reduction in fees on a case-to-case basis using means criterion. At no point of time had the institute objected or refused to support or assist an economically challenged student, he said.

The February 5 order raised major questions not only in respect of the general autonomy enjoyed so far by the institutes but also in respect of the fee structure, which was a major part of the financial autonomy of the institute. It was not in the interest of development and sustenance of institutions of excellence to fetter their autonomy.

The affidavit said the cost incurred by the institute a student was approximately Rs. 4 lakhs a year. However, a fee of only Rs. 1.5 lakhs was collected charged from the students.

Thus, there was a deficit of about Rs. 2.5 lakhs a year, which was met from the various programmes and other income that the institute generated through innovative courses.

The affidavit alleged that the Government wanted to reduce the autonomy of the institute by various means. It had recently changed the procedure to appoint the director. Earlier the board elected the director. Further, the Government had come up with a scheme for funds receivable by the institute.

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