LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on a petition seeking action against the Punjab University for `illegally` running its equivalence department.

A student desirous to seek admission to the LLM filed the petition saying the HEC no longer recognised PU`s equivalence department as the sole authority to recognise degrees was vested with the commission.

Petitioner Sheraz Zaka argued that the PU had been exploiting students and issuing equivalences certificates illegally charging more than Rs1,000.

He asked the court to order the HEC to take action against the university for illegally running its equivalence department.

Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh heard the arguments and sought a reply from the HEC by Dec 15.

PLAGIARISM: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday issued a notice to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on a contempt petition questioning defiance of the court`s earlier order.

Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had directed the HEC chairman to decide within one month a complaint accusing an assistant professor of the Punjab University of plagiarism but the order was not implemented.

Petitioner Imran Saeed, through his counsel Saad Rasool, argued that PU Assistant Professor Zulfiqar Ahmad Bohra had committed plagiarism but the authorities were reluctant to take action against him.

The counsel pointed out that more than two months had lapsed and the complaint was still pending with the HEC chairman.

He argued that the HECchairman committed contempt of the court by not deciding the complaint of the petitioner within the given time.

He sought action against the chairman under the contempt of court law.

The chief justice issued a notice to the HEC chairman and sought a reply within a fortnight.