A fact-finding committee set up by the Gujarat Governor on the alleged ‘obscene’ painting row has recommended that the suspension of acting Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of M S University (MSU) Shivaji Panikkar be revoked. It also advised that student Chandramohan be taken back and given benefit of being judged for his work that was part of the examination.

The three-member committee constituted by Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma in his capacity as the Visitor to MSU, implicated the university administration for its dereliction of duty in preventing hooligans from disrupting an examination. The committee submitted its report to Sharma on Monday.

The recommendations are based on its conclusion that it was an internal examination that was disrupted on May 9, 2007, and not a public display. Though finding Chandramohan’s artwork as “offending religious sensibilities”, the report nevertheless concludes that the painting was not on public display as alleged by VHP activists who had invaded the faculty premises and misbehaved with students.

Holding MSU Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar responsible for the failure, the report says the authorities failed to carry out their duty in not preventing the hooligans from disrupting the internal exam. Committee members were of the view that the word “obscene” could have been used had the works been part of a public display.

The committee went through various submissions, interviews, documents, and related media reports in reaching at its conclusions. Among other things, varsity’s notices, announcements and communications that clearly mention the nature of examination have been listed as proof. There is also an affidavit from a Delhi based examiner, which said it was an internal exam being evaluated and not a public display.

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