NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought details and observations from the Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Sayajirao University at Vadodara over the incidents reported from the campus between May 9 and 11. It has also asked the university authorities about the steps being taken to restore normality.

"An early response is expected from the university so as to enable the UGC to decide on the further course of action, if necessary," Tilak R. Kem, Commission secretary, has said in his letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, Manoj Soni. This follows a representation to the UGC from the faculty members and students of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

The letter says that the examination process in a university system was one of the most important aspects of the education and "taking place of such unwarranted incidents seriously affects the standard of education." It is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the university to maintain a good academic atmosphere and this must not be allowed to be disturbed under any circumstances, it says.

The UGC can withhold funds to the university under Section 14 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 if it (university) fails "within a reasonable time to comply with any recommendations made by the Commission under section 12 or section 13." These two sections relate to grant of funds to the universities. However, there is a procedure that is to be followed before the funds are actually stopped.

The M.S. University is one of the largest beneficiaries of the UGC grants given to any State university. Under the 10th Five Year Plan (2002-2007), the university received Rs 676.84 lakh as against the allocation of Rs 752.05 lakh from the UGC. The university received Rs 252 lakh against an allocation of Rs 280 lakh.

The faculty and students of the Faculty of Fine Arts had on May 12 sought the intervention of the UGC in the matter and drawn the attention of the chairperson over disruption of examination procedures following the incidents and the "absolute indifference" of the university authorities in this regard.

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