No plans to dissolve existing IIM boards: govt

The Government today said there was no plans to dissolve the existing boards of the IIMs across the country following suggestions by a committee to revamp their functioning.

The Bhargava committee set up by the Government had made recommendations like restructuring the society of IIMs and board of governors and providing further powers to the board to select and appoint chairman and director.

"There are no plans to dissolve the existing IIMs boards," said HRD Minister Kapil Sibal in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today but added the report submitted by the Bhargava committee is under examination.

The committee had also suggested redesignation of the directors as president and dean, clearly defining the responsibilities of the faculty members and provision for pension payment.

Sibal said the older IIMs have already been asked to make amendments to their Memorandum of Association and rules and "sent the same to the Ministry for approval".

He said Government has also constituted smaller boards in case of the new IIMs.

To a related question, he said it has been agreed in principle in case of the board of IIM Bangalore that it would have the power to create posts within the approved norms and open centres in India and abroad.

The board has also been empowered to amend rules, approve their own budget and manage own funds generated by the institute.

The IIMs in a recent meeting had stressed the need for increased autonomy.