Insisting on effective operational autonomy for the Indian Institute of Managements, IIM-A Director Bakul Dholakia on Friday said its board of governors will discuss the situation arising out of the Supreme Court endorsing the Centre's decision on fee reduction on the basis of specific  assurances given by the latter.

The board of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, will meet on April 3 to discuss the fee reduction issue, Dholakia said Ahmedabad.

The IIM Controversy: Complete Coverage

"We need to understand the implications of the assurance regarding IIM's autonomy given by the ministry of HRD to the Supreme Court, because we feel that the effective operational autonomy is an important element that determines the quality of all our activities," he said.

However, Dholakia said the definition of 'autonomy' will have to be made clear.

"Effective operational autonomy is the main issue. The government has said that it will not interfere in the autonomy (of IIMs). But what is definition of autonomy? What does it entail? It will have to be decided," he said, when asked what could be construed as effective operational autonomy.

Dholakia, however, said he was not in a position to examine the implications of the disposal of PIL as he did not have the copy of the Supreme Court order.

The IIM-A director tactfully avoided a question as to whether the HRD ministry had already infringed the autonomy of the premier institute by deciding to reduce the fees when it is the board of governors to decide on it.

"If feel, the way you have posed this question, the answer is obvious. I don't see the necessity to answer," Dholakia said.

In a guarded response to a volley of questions, the IIM-A Director maintained that all the issues and implications of the disposal of PIL will be discussed only at the meeting of board of governors.

"I want to make it clear that there is no specific action plan for the situation arising out of the disposal of PIL. It would only be discussed and decided by the board," he said.

On autonomy, Dholakia maintained that "at the moment, what is meant by that particular word is not clear and we will have to figure it out."

Asked specifically whether IIMs were willing to take a legal course against the government, the IIM-A director said, "It essentially means whether board of governors is willing or not. And the board has not met yet."

To a query as to where does the governing council's decision that the IIMs must work for larger autonomy and obtain less funds from the government stand in the wake of the disposal of PIL, Dholakia said, "I hope this would be answered after the meeting of the board on April 3."

However, he said that the governing council was still of the concerted view that government must utilise the scarce financial resources in the optimum way to fund primary education and other activities.

N R Narayana Murthy, Chief Mentor, Infosys, and Chairman, IIMA Board of Governors, reacting to the Supreme Court's dismissal of the PIL challenging reduction in IIM fee said in statement: "The PIL was filed by three individuals and not by the IIMA board or the society. In fact, the IIMA board is yet to meet on the fee reduction issue.  The IIMA board will meet on April 3, 2004 to discuss, debate, review the situation and take appropriate action.