A statement signed by Prashant Gohil and S Desai and S D Patil, among others, complained that the fact that 15 of the 27 students -- all of whom were declared to have failed previously -- had passed vindicated their charge that they had been deliberately failed to allow the discontinuation of the one-year-old course.

They alleged that former vice-chancellor Ashwin Kapadia and Desai had opposed the introduction of the course and had attempted to block its progress. While both Kapadia and Desai have denied those allegations in the past, the head of the department told Express Newsline that he resisted not so much the course but the venue of the classes.

In a statement, Desai said he advocated shifting of the classes, as the university -- where they were held at present -- became deserted in the evenings and might be inaccessible for teachers and students at odd hours.

Claiming that a handful of teachers were responsible for the continuation of the course, the students alleged that the attempt to fail all the 27 students was the last-ditch efforts of the authorities to have their way.

The students maintained that they had been given low marks in both the theory and the practical examinations. While objective checking of the theory papers had allowed some of them to clear the year, the practicals were yet to be scored justly, they said, adding that though the authorities had promised to increase their practical marks, they should do so soon.

They also pleaded that the 12 students who had not been able to clear the examination even after reassessment be allowed to keep term (ATKT) and admitted to the second year.

The students also demanded that Desai and those of his ilk be suspended immediately, along with a teacher who was giving private tuitions. They sought an inquiry into the gold medals awarded to Desai's son in Part I and Part II of M. Sc (regular), pointing out that he had not even cleared the HSC examination.

If these demands were not fulfilled, they would take to the streets, they warned.

In his statement, Desai said as the chairman of the examination committee, he could not have added or subtracted marks in answer scripts assessed by others, but could only give two grace marks to pass a student.

Maintaining that the examiners were all senior teachers and did not deserve to be accused in this manner, Desai demanded that the answer scripts be further assessed by teachers other than those attached to South Gujarat University.

Referring to the allegations over his son's gold medals, the Chemistry department head said he was neither examiner nor paper-setter when his son appeared for the examination. The university was welcome to get his son's answer scripts reassessed, he added.