IIMs told to answer panel queries

The Union ministry of human resources development has asked all six directors of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to answer a set of questions prepared by the one-man commission which is probing the common admission test (CAT) question paper leak case.

The commission was appointed by the ministry three weeks back. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing the case.

Though the ministry had sought responses only from the director of IIM-Ahmedabad, the commission earlier this week sent the same set of questions to other five directors of IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Kozikode, IIM-Lucknow and IIM-Indore.

"he directors have been given two weeks time to respond to the questions, following which further enquiries will begin. The questionnaire was sent earlier to only the director of IIM-A, Bakul Dholakia, who is co-ordinating with all other directors following the CAT paper leak. Now all other directors have been sent the same set of questions to avoid any controversy," said a source close to the ministry in New Delhi.

According to the source, Dholakia, after receiving the questions, had conveyed his displeasure over the issue to the senior officials of the ministry.

Following this, the other five directors were asked to respond to the enquiry commission, which is expected to submit its report to the ministry in two months.

None of the directors has responded to the queries so far.

"I have received the questions only a few days back and will respond to the questions within the stipulated time set by the commission," said Dholakia on Tuesday.

Dholakia, when asked whether he was being targeted by the ministry for his tough stand during the CAT question paper issue, denied to comment.

Meanwhile, the CBI which had solicited certain information from the IIM-A and also the members of the CAT Group, which consists of six chairmen of the admission committees, has received responses from the concerned officials.

"As the CBI has already clarified that the IIMs have so far no role in the question paper leak scam and we have received responses to our queries, we are now concentrating on interrogating the arrested in the last 20 days. If need arises, we may get back to the IIMs once again," said a CBI source.

It may be recalled that P C Sharma, the director general of the premier agency, earlier certified the officials and the director of IIM-A saying that none of them has any role in the question paper leak case.

It may be recalled that on November 26, following a meeting of all the six directors of the IIMs, talking on behalf of all the directors, A H Kalro, director of IIM-Kozikode, had said, "We welcome the enquiry by the ministry. To develop the system, we need to go through such enquiries which always can help one to build the system stronger in the future."