Officials of the Union human resources development ministry have allegedly threatened to dismiss the IIM-Ahmedabad Society members, including its director, Bakul Dholakia.
Prafull Anubhai, IIM-A Society member and one of the donor members of IIM-A, told reporters on Wednesday that the society was upset by the 'explicit threats and unwarranted remarks' made by the government representatives -- V S Pande, joint secretary at the HRD ministry, and V Piparsania, financial advisor to the ministry.
A crucial meeting of the society members of Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, attended by two senior representatives of the Union human resource development ministry, held in Ahmedabad to discuss the implication of the government order about the fee cut issue, was adjourned due to 'a threatening atmosphere.'
Anubhai said the meeting was adjourned and would be convened again at a later date. He said that the IIM-A Society comprises 154 members, including 133 who are donor members, 25 ex-officio members and four government representatives.
Anubhai said the donor members of the society told the meeting that as per the constitution of the society the right to decide the fees vests with the society and this right has been exercised judiciously all these years keeping in mind access, affordability, quality of education and long-term viability of the institute.
He said many members felt that the government holds a different view on the entire issue. He felt that the best way would be to get the matter judicially settled and moved a resolution to that effect.
He, however, said that the society had not yet made up its mind on the exact legal course it would take and did not specify a timeframe either.
He said after the society had made its stand the government officials said in a threatening note that "the government had wider powers and that seeking a judicial settlement would amount to confrontation with the government and that it could supercede or dismiss the society if a legal course was taken."
Anubhai added that the HRD personnel also said that "all the past fee increases implemented are illegal as no bye-laws were framed and therefore the government can ask the society to deposit all these fee increases of the last 40 years with the government."
