Court lets students go to class

SEVEN student leaders banned by the University of Papua New Guinea from pursuing further studies for their part in a recent protest will return to classes today following a court ruling.
The Waigani National Court last Friday stayed the UPNG decision of Aug 9 to permanently bar them from campus.
The seven are Student Representative Council vice-president Arthur Amos, treasurer Jamie Sali, School of Law representative Livai Kuaken, Highlands region representative Hercules Jim, New Guinea Islands representative Alois Kaluwe, plus student leaders Chris Kipalan and Steward Thoke.
UPNG gave them seven days to appeal the decision.
Lawyer Ramsy Pariwa asked the court to grant a stay on the university’s decision.
Justice Leka Nablu granted an interim order stopping the university, its servants and agents from preventing the students from attending classes.
Nablu granted the students leave to apply for a judicial review of the UPNG decision.
The matter returns to court on Oct 20.
The court noted from the students’ submission that the 21 days given to the committee to determine their appeals had lapsed and there was no response.
The students are seeking orders to quash the university’s decision to permanently exclude them, reinstate them to the university and to claim damages.
The court ruled that the students were at liberty to discontinue the matter if the council appeal committee upheld their appeals.
The university was also given liberty to apply to set aside the interim stay order if the committee rules against the students’ appeal.