1) The domain of ‘Best Employer Brand Image’ is not limited within the recruitment of freshers or
Keeping promises about recruiting. How a company treat its employees, how they are comfortable in the working environment of the company, how are the employee welfare policies there, how transparent is the organization in any transaction with it’s employees. All these factors mainly decide about the brand image of any organization as a best employer. As far as I understood, due to recession/slowdown these companies rejected the offers of ‘would be employees’. If we see it in a business or legal or in a large scale point of view it does not affect the brand image of the company but certainly affect the beliefs of freshers/students who aspire to join these organizations. It may create a temporary competitive disadvantage. In this context I think Infosys could show tolerance and sustainability by retaining the offers. They could delay it to resolve the issue. In fact I have faced a similar environment where I was recruited by Infosys in 2008 and due to recession they extend the training period but not rejected a single job offer in entire country. They have showed leadership by example in such a tough condition, where companies like Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley fall down. May be Infosys learnt it from its previous experience which helps it to gain competitive advantage in such a tough situation.
According to me such short term issues are not much powerful to hamper any large company’s image though such incidents should be avoided to maintain the honor, values, and promises.

2) Yes, I agree with the statement as they are legally 100% correct. In ‘intent of offer’ there is no obligation present that company is bound to absorb the offered candidates. In that context the Infosys spokesperson is correct. Because by this ‘intent of offer’ both the company as well as students is free to search for better options. It is not observed by any of us that many students among the groups are also selected by other organizations. These candidates choose for more options probably better options for them. If they are not bound to the offer or not questioned about loyalty then why the company? In today’s world there should be back up plan for every situation. It is applicable to organizations as well as to individuals. Blaming other for bad situation is not advisable thing; better prepare yourself for tougher and competitive world. I think those students who have visions and caught two job offers had better and longer competitive advantage over others. Competitive advantage is not only applicable to organizations rather to individuals also.
3) If I were the placement coordinator in IIT, then in such scenario I would definitely tried for other placements by alumni networks and by contacting with domestic companies, govt. sectors. Also preparing gem students of IIT (Who are capable to do anything) for higher studies and off-campus prestigious jobs I might end up with better result than any other year! I would definitely take this as a challenge or a twisting but better result opportunity and would try different plans to fulfill the targets.
4) Yes, my entire batch had faced this situation due to recession of 2008. Where as lucky people like me are not affected by this as Infosys keep its promises, but my friends in Satyam were not lucky enough as their offers are cancelled due to the Satyam disaster.In such situations my friends worked harder for off-campus recruitment, some for govt. jobs, some for higher studies, some for small but efficient farms to get selected. The positive point is all of them were selected one by one gradually and they are progressed even better than us now! Such negative situation actually helped them to understand their hidden but actual ability! According to me tough situations are coming with hidden opportunities. It depends on us how we tackle these.