New Delhi, Feb 28: The Supreme Court verdict has vindicated the move in slashing fees charged by the six prestigious Indian Institutes of Management from Rs 150,000 to Rs 30,000 and exposed those ''sponsoring propaganda'' against it, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi asserted yesterday. But at a hurriedly called news conference he declined to identify such quarters, although he appeared amazed that even now the challengers were pretending as if they had scored some kind of a victory.
Dr Joshi was commenting on the Supreme Court action in disposing of a public interest petition without intervening in the HRD ministry's decision to reduce the IIMs annual fee to Rs 30,000 per student.
Dr Joshi said if the challengers wanted to take any credit on autonomy, he wanted them to know that he has himself been a staunch advocate of autonomy for educational institutions in this country.
Dr Joshi told journalists that IIMs have always been autonomous and will remain so in the future.
He dismissed suggestions that the government might act against those who resisted its move on fees-- such as IIM Ahmedabad chairman N R Narayanamurthy.
Asked if he would ask Narayanamurthy to resign, Dr Joshi replied, ''Why should I ask him.''
Asked whether he would countenance having in IIMs elements who engage in sponsoring propaganda, Dr Joshi cited the existence of various norms and protocols under which all must function. Bureau Report