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Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh on Sunday dismissed reports of removal of YC Deveshwar as the chairman of the board of governors of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and said there was no possibility of his ouster from the post.
"I am saying that he (Deveshwar) has not been removed," he said when asked to clarify if the ITC chairman was removed from the IIM-C board, as reported in a section of the media.
The IIM Controversy: Complete Coverage
Singh also ruled out any possibility of Deveshwar's removal and asked, "Why should he be (removed)?"
Reports over Deveshwar's removal created confusion even among the IIM-C faculty council members, who sought to mend the differences that cropped up with the chairman over the fee cut issue before the crucial meeting on June 18, convened to discuss the uniform fee structure of all IIMs.
About the removal of the six board members of IIM, Calcutta last night, he said, "there was opposition to the appointment of some people. So they were replaced by others."
However, the Centre replaced the six 'illegal' members of the board by nominating GP Goenka, chairman of Duncan group, Harshavardhan Neotia, managing director of Ambuja Cement, Aveek Sarkar, chairman of Ananda Bazar Patrika, SM Datta, former chairman of Brooke Bond Limited, TB Singh, former chairman of Balco and MK Deb, chairman of MP Windfarms, Bhopal.
The minister also said the Centre would take a decision on the proposed fee cut of the IIMs only after getting the response of the IIM boards on a possible revision in the fee structure by June 25.
"I am waiting for the IIM boards to take a final decision. They are to convey their decisions by June 25. Once they come, then I will say what I have to say," Singh said.
Terming the justifications given by his predecessor Murli Manohar Joshi for a fee cut of IIMs as "no more relevant", Singh said his ministry was committed to keeping the autonomy of the premier institutes intact. "I will not interfere unless they are facing any problem in achieving their goals," he said.
The minister, however, ruled out any change in the board of other IIMs, and said, "changes can come when there is an occasion for it...there is no such opposition in other institutes."
Meanwhile, Singh asserted that the Centre was taking a number of steps to undo the changes made in the syllabi as part of the saffronisation of education by the NDA government.
"We have taken one step after another...the committee (set up to review the curricula) report is expected within a fortnight," he said.
Asked if the Centre would issue any guildeline to the states in this regard, he said, "let us first have this review, which has been ordered. After that comes, we will see what can be done about it."
The impact of the saffronisation process on the education sector, Singh said, was "fairly substantial".
When pointed out that the Delhi government has also initiated steps to 'detoxify' the education system, he said, "it is doing that on its own and not at our behest."
Asked about the controversial decision of previous HRD minister Murli Monohar Joshi of introducing astrology in university curriculum, he said, "so far as subjects are concerned, the basic rationale for any subject is whether the people or the students are interested in learning it. If they are interested in learning them, there is a rationale. If nobody wants to read about it or study, that subject is redundant."
Asked if the alleged "political appointments" in other premier institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, would also be reviewed, Singh said, "I am not aware of it. If someone can give me details, then I will see. I must have something in writing...unless I know this authoritatively on someone, how can I react?"
Dwelling on the coming Budget, he said the HRD ministry would put thrust on areas like primary education, literacy and centres of excellence for scientific research.
About the NDA government's announcement of India's emerging capability for exporting defence technology, he said, "I think those kinds of talks don't make any sense unless there is something concrete."