Fee cut row: IIM, govt set for round II

Even as round one in the IIM-HRD ministry tussle went to the former; preparations have begun for the next stage of the battle. It will be fought at the negotiating teams, one comprising IIM board members and IIM Society representatives and another consisting of government officials. These two committees, after finalising their own committees, after finalising their own position, will sit across the table.

But that will be after the new government is in place. "It will be a long and protracted negotiation. Even if M M Joshi isn't the next HRD minister; the issues he raised would have to be answered," admitted a don on the IIM campus. He and many other colleagues said they were "relieved" but "still apprehensive that things may never be the same again because autonomy goes much beyond the issue of who has the right to set fees." Moreover; in negotiations, there has to be some "give and take," which means IIM would have to give some.