IIM-A prepones meet to April 2

The adjourned meeting of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) Society, which was scheduled to held on April 3, has been preponed by a day.

The meeting will be chaired by N R Narayanamurthy, Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIM-A, who is expected to return from his US trip on March 29.

Topmost on the agenda for the meeting is the passing of a resolution seeking legal recourse against the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) order for slashing of fees. The meeting may also decide on seeking the court's intervention on the autonomy issue.

The meeting could not be concluded with a resolution on February 10 because of differences in opinion and had to be postponed to April 3.

Sources close to IIM-A Society said on Wednesday that, unlike the last meeting which was attended by only 30-odd Society members, this time's meet is expected to be attended by a large number of members including corporate heavyweights.

"Besides, Infosys chairman N R Narayanamurthy, IIM-A Society has corporate heavyweights such as Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and Hindustan Lever chief M S Banga as members of the board of governors. This time, the Society will ensure higher attendance of members for this important meeting. We have decided to prepone the meet by a day to keep a gap between the board meeting and the convocation day, slated for April 3," the sources said.

While Society members are preparing to go to court armed with legal advises from top lawyers and advocates, it has been reliably learnt that the Faculty Council of the Institute is preparing a White Paper on the fee cut and autonomy issues which are expected to be tabled before the Society and the board meeting of the Institute.

Following a stormy Faculty Council meeting at the IIM-Calcutta on Tuesday, faculty members of IIM-A have also got enough reasons to be enthused.

It may be recalled that the Society had to adjourn its February 10 meeting because of 'hostile' atmosphere inside the meeting room because of aggressive statements made by Joint Secretary of MHRD, V S Pandey and Financial Advisor to MHRD, V Piparsania.

It all started when many members attending the meeting expressed their belief that as the Government holds a different view, the best way is to get this matter judicially settled.