LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has sought replies from federal and provincial governments on an appeal challenging appointment of the National College of Art`s (NCA) Principal, Murtaza Jafri, for being made in violation of rules.

Dr Nadeem Umar filed an intracourt appeal challenging dismissal of a petition by a single bench wherein appointment of Mr Jafri was assailed.

Advocate Abid Saqi argued before a two-judge bench that the provincial government advertised the principal`s post, but the qualification required for the job was against the rules.

He pointed out that as per the advertisement the age qualification was from 50 to 65 years, which was against the regulations.

The counsel said the NCA Employees Service Regulations 1995 mentioned the age limit for the principal`s slot from 35 to 50 years. He argued that the respondent was overage as per the regulations, but the government relaxed the age criteria only to accommodate the respondent with mala fide intention.

He said the single bench ignored the facts and failed to examine the correctness of the powers that restedwith the NCA`s chairman to relax the rules.

The lawyer pointed out that neither the appellant nor any other candidate had been interviewed or assessed in transparent manner and that the appointment of the respondent had been made without following due process of law.

He asked the bench to set aside the decision of the single bench and also the appointment of the respondent.

The bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi heard the arguments and issued notices to the respondents for Nov 13.

DISPOSED OF: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed of a petition challenging promotions of two women assistant professors of the Punjab University and directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to decide the matter.

Mohsin Bilal had filed a petition, pleading that assistant professors Ms Bushra Rehman and Ms Abida Ijaz had been promoted as associate professors despite facing inquiries on plagiarism and corruption charges.

He asked the court to declare the promotions awarded to the respondents as illegal.

Justice Ali Akbar Qureshi disposed of the petition and directed the HEC to decide the matter after hearing both sides.