Joshi firm on IIM fee cut

Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi appeared unrelenting in the face of the recent decision by the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, (IIM-A) to ignore his ministry's fee cut order.

"IIMs have been built by the government and it has every right to suggest the fee structure," he said.

"I stand for the common man. Education should be made affordable and accessible to all and cannot be monopolised and commercialised by a few," Joshi added.

He, however, declined to directly comment on the decision of the IIM-A board decision.

"I have not received a copy of the resolution yet and so I can only comment after I receive one," Joshi said.

Joshi also said he has not received any formal request for a dialogue on the fee cut issue, as proposed by the IIM-A board.

The ministry wants fees slashed to Rs 30,000 per course from the existing Rs 1.5 lakh.