Talking to Express Newsline, Syndicate member Pragnesh Shah said, ``It is definitely a drawback that the committee members have come to their conclusion without giving the accused a chance for an explanation.''

If they had concluded that former faculty dean B S Patel was at fault, the least they could have done was give him a chance to clear his name, Shah said, adding that without his explanation, the committee could not have concluded that Patel was at fault.

Syndicate member Ghanshyam Dalal echoed his sentiments. ``There are serious allegations against Patel; he is accused of accepting money from the students. But the report cannot be considered complete if the accused is not allowed to furnish an explanation.''

Since explanations were sought in the normal course of things, how could this be an exception, Dalal asked.

Senior Syndicate member Harivadhan Parikh said that the committee has not handled the whole thing very intelligently. ``It is surprising how a report could be submitted without interrogating the accused'', Parikh said, adding that though it was possible Patel had been at fault, his version still needed to be recorded.

Syndicate member I I Pandya said, ``Without studying the report it is very difficult to make a comment, but that Patel has not been given a chance at all arouses doubts about the committee's proceedings.''