The confusion over fee cuts by the Indian Institutes of Management has led to the stalling of the admission process in the premier business schools. The new academic session is slated to start in June.

In May, the IIMs send 'admission letters' to students who have qualified for admission, asking them to complete the necessary documentation and deposit their fees with the respective institutes.

The IIM Controversy: Complete Coverage

Nearly 1,000 students have qualified for admission to the six IIMs. At present, however, five of the IIMs, except IIM-Lucknow, are not sure whether they should ask for the existing fees or that decided by the human resources development ministry.

Only IIM-Lucknow has decided to implement the fee structure proposed by the HRD ministry. IIM-Indore has decided to wait for the Supreme Court order on the issue, which may take some more time.

IIM-Kozikode also communicated its willingness to implement the new fee structure if the ministry fulfilled the deficit of funds. It is yet to get a positive response from the ministry, as the latter is yet to get the sanction of additional funds from the finance ministry.

"Had there been an interim relief order from the Supreme Court or even a stay order on the HRD ministry's fee proposal, the institutes could have asked students to deposit fees according to the existing structure, which ranges from Rs 100,000-155,000," said a senior advocate of Gujarat High Court.

Praful Anubhai, spokesperson for the IIM-Ahmedabad Society, said, "We will not allow the wastage of even a single day of the academic session."

IIM-C board to meet on Mar 26 

The board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management - Kolkata will meet on Friday to decide its stand on the fee cut issue.

The meeting, to be chaired by IIM-Kolkata board chairman YC Deveshwar, comes close on the heels of the successful placement of the 242 final year students of the institute on March 23.