HRD ministry decides to grant more autonomy to IIMs

More autonomy to IIMs.

The HRD ministry has decided to give more autonomy to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) and reduce government control over them under a proposed Bill, with Union minister Prakash Javadekar reworking the provisions introduced under his predecessor Smriti Irani.

According to sources, among the key provisions that the HRD ministry has decided to revise include those related to the Visitor's office, reported PTI.

It is learnt that the new Bill draft has dropped previous references to the President of India having the power to review their work as the Visitor.

The Visitor makes top appointments at all the centrally funded institutes and universities, and is also empowered to hold an inquiry into an institute or its head’s functioning. It is argued, that since the Visitor is largely advised by the HRD ministry in his decisions, the government indirectly exercises control over the institute.

HRD ministry under Smriti Irani had insisted on retaining the Visitorial role.

Another change from the earlier proposed draft is that the HRD ministry has given more powers to the Board of Governors of the IIMs to appoint their directors.

It is understood that the HRD ministry under Smriti Irani did not favour some of these changes, but with the PMO apparently supportive of more autonomy, her successor Prakash Javadekar has accepted them.

The new draft bill is now learnt to have gone to the Law ministry for vetting.

Among other provisions which have been changed relate to minimising government control over IIM coordination panel, the sources said.

The IIM Bill had been moved to Cabinet in August, certain new recommendations were made later. The bill was reworked based on the new recommendations.

The reworked bill, which has been sent to the Law ministry before being taken to the Union Cabinet again.

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