The central government has notified a fresh set of norms for the appointment of directors in IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management). As per the new set of norms, it will be now mandatory for applicants for the post to have first class degrees in both Bachelor’s as well as Master’s, alongside a PhD or equivalent degree for a reputed institute. As per the previous norms, candidates with a distinguished academic record along with a PhD degree were considered for appointment as IIM Directors. Importantly, the previous norm had no mention of the required ‘class or division’ at any level of academics, for candidates to be considered for the post. 


Under the new rules, the ‘President’ shall now be a visitor to all the IIMs, and will also have powers to appoint or remove directors. The President will also have the power to appoint chairperson of the board of governors as well as the authority to dissolve the board if it fails to perform its duties or comply with the visitor’s directions. 


The new norms for the appointment of IIM directors gain significant importance considering the controversy after the appointment of Dheeraj Sharma as IIM-Rohtak director, who holds a second-division degree in his bachelors. Under the revised norms though, the Visitor will make the final call on the appointment of any IIM director. The visitor shall now nominate one of the names recommended by the board, and send it back for appointment.  


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"Provided that where the visitor is not satisfied with the names recommended by the board, he or she may ask the board to make fresh recommendations. If the visitor is not satisfied with the panel of names recommended by the board, the board shall get a fresh panel of three names recommended through the same search-cum-selection committee or a fresh search-cum-selection committee," news agency PTI reported the official notification in the matter as saying. 


Notably, under the previous norms, it was the IIMs’ Board of Governors, which was responsible for reviewing, recommending and appointing directors in IIMs. However, under the new norms, the power now rests with the President of India. The honourable President is already the visitor to all central universities and IITs across the country, and also appoints the vice-chancellors and directors in these higher education institutions. The concept of a visitor in IIMs was first mentioned in the draft of the present day act that was released in 2015. However, by far, IIM directors had resisted it citing that it would put a question mark on the autonomous powers of IIMs. 


(With inputs from PTI)


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