Govt withdraws nominees from IIM Boards; new BoG to be constituted as per IIM Act 2017

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 13: The Government of India has approved the constitution of new Boards of Governors for the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), in accordance with the IIM Act 2017." Centre has also decided to immediately withdraw the Government nominees who are in excess of the provisions of the Act.

This process is in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the IIM Act 2017 and has been approved in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice. As per the provisions of the Act, the Board of Governors of each IIM shall be the principal executive body comprising up to 19 members.

Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Prakash Javadekar after approving the process of constitution of Boards for the IIMs said that the process of constitution of Boards for the IIMs, which have been given full powers of running the institutions, is a major development which signals complete autonomy of quality institutions in higher education and will ensure quality expansion of higher education.

The Indian Institute of Management Act, 2017 has given the IIMs powers to award degrees instead of postgraduate diplomas. The Act will provide greater autonomy to these institutes. The Act has to a larger extent removed all interference of the government, bureaucracy in the functioning of the IIMs.

As per a notification released by the Government, “The IIM Act is a historical step of the Govt which for the first time, provided comprehensive autonomy to the higher educational institutions. This will pave way for complete control of the institutions by reputed academicians and alumni.”

The notification reads the process of constitution of the first Boards as laid down in Section 10 of the Act would be kicked off with the (3) Ex-officio members. who will select Chairperson, who shall normally be the current Chairperson and would be given the full term under the new Act(except where there are issues of ineligibility)? Then on, the Chairperson would lead the further process of constitution of the Boards as laid down under the Act.

Thereafter, the Board consisting of Chairperson and ex-officio members will co-opt (5) alumni from each of the IIMs, who will normally be the current serving members, except in cases of ineligibility.

In the first meeting of the Board, the regulations for selection of (4) eminent persons and two faculty members would be framed; and based on this, normally the current serving persons would be selected for a full term. This process is expected to be completed before 15th Dec 2018.