Union HRD Ministry is likely to introduce the tweaked version of the controversial IIM Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 21, the draft of which has come under immense criticism from the premier B-schools.
Officials who are currently examining the feedback and from various stakeholders, said the objections to the clauses from the IIM and the stand of the Ministry to each of these clauses would be placed before HRD Minister Smriti Irani soon.
"We hope that within a fortnight we would be able to decided on the clauses afresh and place it before the Union Cabinet during the Monsoon Session itself so that it is taken up for consideration," officials said.
Several IIMs, especially the older ones led by IIM Ahmadabad, had come down heavily on the government over the draft bill, saying it will not only curtail their autonomy but reduce the IIMs to a mere "operating centre", while arming the government with sweeping powers.
"We are deeply concerned that some provisions of the bill would seriously compromise the autonomy of the institute. We believe that this is an important bill for the future of management education and therefore requires critical review to ensure an optimal balance between autonomy and accountability of the institution," IIM-Ahmadabad chairperson A M Naik said in a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
Even as the Ministry is reaching out to the IIMs individually to discuss the provisions, sources said the Ministry may delete sub-section (1) of section 36 of the draft bill which says the "IIM Board may, with the approval of the Central government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to carry out the provisions of this Act".
The IIMs also want section 35 to be removed as it was not discussed with them. Section 35 empowers the Union government, among other things, to "make rules, for carrying out the provisions of this (IIM) Act".
