Students and parents, who discussed the issue at a meeting today, have demanded an inquiry into the unprecedented decision apart from questioning the assessment of the papers as well.

They also said if Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh, at whose behest the eight grace marks were awarded, could make this concession in one paper, grace marks should be awarded in every subject, in both the theory and practical examinations.

About 80 final year MBBS students and their parents, who met at the office of the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), said all eight papers in the final year were difficult this year, which would place students of the University of Mumbai at a disadvantage vis-a-vis those from other universitiesin the state during admission to post-graduate courses.

The MMC will also forward a letter listing the students' demand for grace marks in every subject to the state health minister and the deputy secretary of the Department of Medical Education. They have demanded an independent inquiry into the vice-chancellor's decision, adding that both Dr Deshmukh and the dean of the faculty of medicine remain absent during that period.

They pointed out that the overall pass percentage of the final year MBBS results of the University of Mumbai (43 per cent) was far lower than those of other state universities, which averaged 65 to 85 per cent. Admission to post-graduate medical courses, which will be centralised for the first time from this year, will take into account 50 per cent of the marks scored at the MBBS exam. The other 50 per cent will comprise marks from the common entrance test.

``For students of Mumbai University, the 50 per cent rule will prove to be a death-knell as their result is very low. At thisrate, only students from outside Mumbai University will get admission for the post-graduate course,'' one of the parents pointed out.

They were also extremely indignant at the vice-chancellor's decision to award eight grace marks in the PSM paper on the pretext that the 15-marks `short notes' section was difficult. The overall MBBS results, which were declared on January 12, were augmented by a negligible two per cent and in no way justifies the vice-chancellor's action, one of the students argued.

With the additional eight marks, a paltry 38 additional students passed in the PSM paper while it helped a mere 64 of the 1,400-odd to pass overall.``Moreover, most of those who failed did so in the practicals and not in the theory papers. Hence it makes no sense to award extra marks in a theory paper,'' another student said. Students also attributed the poor results to the haphazard assessment of papers in November last year. The central assessment scheme, introduced for the first time, had flopped miserablywith most examiners failing to turn up at the centres. After hearing the students' representations, MMC Vice-President Dr Sudhir Dagaonkar observed, ``There is something seriously wrong with the way the university has conducted the exams, both in theory and practicals.''