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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, March 26: Governor Dr P C Alexander, in his capacity as the Chancellor, today issued a show cause notice to Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University, Snehalata Deshmukh, for awarding grace marks to final year MBBS students after the results were declared.
The Governor’s decision, which is perhaps first of its kind in the history of the Mumbai University, comes after a string of exposes by The Indian Express which first broke the story about the university awarding eight grace marks to MBBS students.
In a strongly-worded four-page notice, issued under Section 9 (4) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, Alexander has asked Deshmukh to show cause within seven days, as to why the decision to award grace marks should not be set aside. Alexander had a marathon meeting yesterday with Deshmukh and pro-Vice-Chancellor Naresh Chandra and subsequently came to the conclusion that the decision to grant grace marks after declaration of final results was not only illegal, but also beyond the powers ofthe university under the Maharashtra Universities Act.
The Mumbai University had declared the results of the final MBBS Examination on January 12. However, the results were modified on January 25 and in the process, the university decided to grant eight grace marks to the students to enable them to pass the exams.
The contention of the university was that since some of the students were unable to attempt some parts of the Preventive and Social Medicine paper, it was decided to grant them eight grace marks. However, along with the 64 unsuccessful candidates, grace marks were granted to all the other 900-odd students who had cleared the exams as declared by the university.
The Indian Express, in its report on January 29, exposed how the decision of the university was not only illegal, but also taken for the benefit of a section of the students. On the basis of the report, Health Minister Daulatrao Aher had asked the Maharashtra Medical Council to conduct an inquiry, which revealed the main beneficiariesof the University’s decision.
Alexander too has rejected the contention of the VC that she was empowered to modify the results within six months of the date of declaration of result by invoking provisions of Ordinance 234. Alexander said the “university’s interpretation of Ordinance 234 is incorrect since in this case, there was no use of unfair means, fraud or malpractice which could be grounds for amending the results.”
The governor has submitted a copy of today’s notice to the government. Section 9 (4) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, — under which the notice has been issued — provides that the Chancellor may, after taking a report in writing from the VC, suspend or modify any resolution, order or proceedings of any authority, body, committee or officer, which in his opinion is not in conformity with the act, statutes, ordinances or regulations made there under or, is not in the interest of the University.
Under the Act, it is also obligatory on the part of the Chancellor to seekexplanation from the VC before taking any stringent action.
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