INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT Vs. VIKRAM SRIRAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Appellant-Indian Institute of Management is aggrieved by the direction of the learned Single Judge to issue a certificate to the Respondent / Original Petitioner, a student, based on completion of the first year of a two year programme. According to the Appellant- Institute, having failed the second year of the Course, no direction could have been given to issue a certificate for the first year of the programme.

(2.) The Appellant-Institute conducts the Executive Postgraduate Programme (EPGP), a two-year postgraduate diploma program for the Executive Postgraduate Diploma in Management (EPGDM). Each academic year begins in September / October. There are four semesters. The program is divided into three modules : Foundation and Functional Core Courses, Electives and Functional Workshops, and an Integrated Capstone Course. Each Course follows a credit-based structure. One credit represents nine hours of contact sessions, and a full course of three credits requires 27 hours of classroom interaction.

(3.) The Academic Handbook for the 2011-2013 EPGDM, which is relevant to this petition, details the grading system, instructional tools, and academic requirements. There are various teaching methods, including computer-based simulations, class presentations, multimedia case analysis, video conferencing, and e- learning. Clause 4.4 of the Handbook specifies that the programme is delivered through two primary modes: the Interactive Learning (IL) Platform and in-campus modules. The IL Platform forms the core of the programme, utilizing two-way audio/video synchronous telecommunication to connect instructors with students remotely. Clause 4.2 specifies the elective requirements for the second year. Students have to choose 15 electives, each carrying 2 credits (equivalent to 18 hours of instruction), for a total of 270 instructional hours. Clause 5 provides details regarding the grading and evaluation system. To pass the Course, students must earn a grade above 'F' in the End Term Exam, with any failing grades recorded as 'F'. Clause 5.1 describes the 13-level grading scheme, ranging from A+ to F, and at the end of each Course, instructors assign letter grades to students. Clause 5.1.4 explains how the Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) is calculated by multiplying course credits with grade points and dividing the sum by the total credits for the term. Similarly, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is a composite measure of the student's overall academic performance across all terms, excluding non-credit courses.