This was discussed at an urgent meeting of the Board of Examinations (BoE) convened today to discuss the MBBS marks scandal. The meeting is the fifth to be held on the issue.

After the grace marks were withdrawn, 64 students failed in the MBBS exam and 38 in the PSM paper. The university had extended facilities of revaluation for these students.

According to university sources, at today's meeting, the revaluation results of these 102 students were discussed, and it was pointed out that several students had benefitted due to revaluation. This, university officials are believed to have said, could raise doubts about the vice-chancellor's earlier decision to grant gracemarks on the grounds that the PSM paper was `tough'. A board member is also believed to have said that the enhanced revaluation results proved that the earlier decision to award grace marks wasn't necessary at all, as revaluation could just as well have done the job.

Also, there was no question of a `tough' paper, university sources say, as the revaluation results show that it was the quality of assessment that was poor.

The university is staying tight-lipped about today's meeting. Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Naresh Chandra, apart from `no comment', would only say that all the revaluation results will be declared by April 20.

While the results haven't been officially declared as yet, according to university sources, 71 students had applied for revaluation. Eleven papers are yet to be reassessed, sources say, and there is no change in the marks of 24 students, while 36 students have benefitted due to revaluation. Of these, 12 students have scored more than 20 percent of their original marks and their papershave been sent for a second revaluation. Papers are sent for second revaluation when students get more than 20 per cent of their original marks after revaluation. With half the students scoring better marks, the quality of the first assessment has raised doubts.

Also, to avoid chances of manipulation during revaluation, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has already demanded in a letter to the Chancellor that the revaluation be carried out by educators affiliated to universities other than the Mumbai university.

This demand is also believed to have been discussed at today's meeting, with university officials suggesting that external examiners should be appointed to avoid another controversy. However, board members then replied that the matter was not within the board's purview and that it was purely an administrative matter. Also, as there are no complaints about revaluation results, there was no need for the board to discuss the issue, it was stated at the meeting.