Application to evict staff extended 

By JOSHUA ARLO
THE National Court in Waigani yesterday extended restraining orders against the PNG University of Technology preventing the management from evicting members of its National Academic Staff Association (NASA) from their quarters.
NASA obtained the interim injunction order last Thursday from the late Justice Moses Jalina in an urgent application for the motion which they filed last Dec 10.
The late judge had used his discretion in granting the orders despite no formal defence being filed by the defendant.
He adjourned to give time for a defence to be filed before the substantive matter was heard.
He had directed the orders returnable this Wednesday, however due to his sudden passing, the matter was heard yesterday before Justice Derek Hartshorn.
Elemi Lawyers acted for NASA while the university was represented by Steeles Lawyers.
The case was in relation to a strike by some staff members last year where the university took them to court in a separate proceeding that is still pending.
The NASA and the university then entered an agreement that no staff member would be terminated until their dispute was resolved.
The court was also told that the defendant took action against the plaintiffs by sending them a notice of termination.
The plaintiffs were in fear of their accommodation being forcefully taken from them, the court heard.
Yesterday, another urgent application by NASA, which sought an extension of the orders of Dec 13 was heard by Justice Hartshorn.
Justice Hartshorn extended the restraining order to close of business on Feb 8 next year.