IIPM advertisement entraps students: HC

The Delhi High Court, which recently restrained the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) from using the words MBA, BBA, or Management Course for its programmes, has observed that the institute’s advertisement about its association with the International Management Institute (IMI), Brussels, is a “maze” created by it to “entrap students”.

In fact, the Brussels-based institute is “another face” of the IIPM, having been set up by Arindam Chaudhuri, IIPM Think Tank director, and his father Malay Chaudhuri. The IIPM, however, has “cleverly” managed to conceal this in its advertisements, the court noted in its judgment on September 26 while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2010.

The IIPM, in its advertisements, however is portraying itself as if it has recognition from a foreign management institute, IMI, Belgium, if not in India from the University Grants Commission (UGC) or All India Council for Technical Institute (AICTE), the court observed.

“The advertisements have the potential of misguiding young minds who have a craze for foreign education in the hope it will open doors for international placements/employments. IMI, Belgium is nothing but an alter ego or another face of IIPM,” the Court added.

The Court directed the institute to “prominently” display on its website that they are not recognized by any statutory body or authority. It also directed the IIPM to display on its website the status of the foreign university/ institution and/or its degree or certificate in the country of its origin.

“The IIPM and its management and officials including its Dean Arindam Chaudhuri are restrained with immediate effect from using the word MBA, BBA, Management Course, Management School, Business School or B-School in relation to the Courses or programmes being conducted by them or in relation to the representations if any made to the public at large and/or to their prospective clients, customers or students,” the Court held.

The court also asked the Institute to pay Rs 25,000 to the Delhi Legal Services Authority as cost within four weeks from Sunday.

When contacted, Choudhary told Deccan Herald he would challenge the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court, saying it would send out a “wrong impression” about the IIPM among the public.

“We never say we will give MBA or BBA. This has to be clarified that we never made such claims. We respect the judgement of the court and will implement its order. But a court’s judgement can be erroneous, that is why Supreme Court is there,” he said. Choudhary said that, meanwhile, the IIPM will abide by the directives given to it by the court in its judgement.

“We will write prominently on our website that we are not affiliated either with UGC or AICTE or any other authority. We never claimed that. We want to stay out of government approval. The Court has directed us to do something which we do not do,” he said.