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        When the NDA government's HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi sought to put his foot down on the fee hike plan of the IIMs, there was a hue and cry that he was meddling with the essential autonomy of these premier institutions. The media and the fashionable sections of the political class went to town as to how these institutions, which enjoy global acclaim, should be left untouched. The present HRD Minister Arjun Singh is not so much trying to interfere with these blue riband educational centres as actually armtwist them into submission. But the same media and the politicos rather than rise up in protest are actually egging him on from the sidelines.

        It is clear that a lot of confusion and complexity have been now infused into these institutions and not only the students but also the faculty maybe feeling thoroughly despondent. This should disturb all those who have the long-term interest of academics in this country's. IITs, AIIMS and IIMs have long derived their strength from their absolute independence in terms of admissions and in their day-to-day running. The unfettered autonomy is a major attraction for qualified academics to become part of the faculty in these elite educational places. But now that the politicos have stirred the waters and muddied them, the talent flight into the faculty would be reduced.

        The majority of the faculty in institutions like IITs, IIMs, IISc, ISI, TIFR and AIIMs are there by choice as because of the essential freedom inherent in them. That proportion can now be expected to sharply decline. A natural consequence of this would be the decline in the quality of the faculty and, then by further corollary, a decline in the entire educational process that these institutions take so much pride in.

        As any one in the field of education will tell you that finding students is not a difficult task. But to come up with matching and acceptable professors and lecturers is. The government has said that to match the higher intake of students retired faculty can be re-hired. This is obviously a retrograde step, more so in institutions where niftiness of mind is of prime importance. In IITs and IIMs, a good chunk of those who complete their PhDs join the academia, and this has a multiplier effect on higher education. The quality of the PhD programmes, which is already under some strain, will definitely decline if the overall quality of faculty is allowed to fall. The reservation conundrum, whether one likes it or not, has created an impression that merit has been diluted in these institutions. This will obviously tell at the time of job recruitment. This is a serious danger. But then, this is probably not a serious issue for the government. It has social justice, whatever that is, to pay lipservice to.