As the Chancellor has already declined to attend the convocation, the degrees and diplomas will have to be signed by the vice-chancellor under the university norms. But with S B Vora's dismissal and the matter pending in Gujarat High Court, the university is hard pressed to make a decision. Though vice-chancellor in-charge H M Desai can sign the degrees and diplomas in normal circumstances, he cannot do it now as the final hearing in the High Court is scheduled on November 25.

If Vora wins, the certificates would have to carry his signature and if he loses then Desai can sign the certificates. But by the time the High Court takes a decision (considering it is done the same day), the university examination section would have just four days left to print over 25,000 certificates and get them signed by the VC, which may not be easy.

The university has no choice but to propose to the Chancellor to choose a date in the second or the third week of December.

And students will bear the brunt, particularly those needing degrees or diplomas for job or passport or some other purpose they have already initiated.