Court rejects former uni staff’s bid to be reinstated

THE National Court has declined to grant mandatory injunction orders sought by University of Goroko (UOG) Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr Teng Waninga for reinstatement pending a decision by the judiciary.
Waninga yesterday filed a motion seeking orders from the court to have him reinstated as the UOG Pro-Vice-Chancellor – academic and research at the top management team and further injunction for the university council from taking further actions.
Waninga, through his lawyer, argued that his reinstatement was necessary for UOG’s academic year.
Justice David Cannings, however, seeing the significance of the matter and viewed that reinstating Waninga would disrupt management processes and activities of the university, as it was understood that Waninga and the university council had unsettled issues before the court, refused to grant the relief sought.
“I see that the Waninga has an arguable case, but it’s not arguable enough to me because he was dismissed due to university council losing confidence in him,” he said.
“We cannot force the university to take back someone after losing confidence.”
Waninga’s lawyer further submitted that he was suspended on disciplinary grounds and then was dismissed afterwards.
The court was told that Waninga’s contract of employment will expire in December.
The matter will return on May 18 for pre-trial conference and trial to be heard by Justice Cannings on May 20.
Waninga was dismissed by the university council on March 26 on disciplinary grounds over 11 charges.
Waninga told The National earlier that one of the allegations was that he took in 220 more than the required number.