LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday suspended a notification of Vice Chancellor Agriculture University Faisalabad for departmental proceedings against a female lecturer.

Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan passed the order on a petition, filed by lecturer Dr Naima Nawaz, challenging proceedings against her.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel arguing before the court submitted that the petitioner was serving as a lecturer in Department of Rural Sociology in Grade 18. He said that Vice Chancellor Rana Iqrar Ahmad Khan initiated departmental proceedings against the petitioner on charges of misconduct and constituted an inquiry committee on Oct 7.

He said that as per Agriculture University Act, the syndicate was appointing authority and only it could take action or punish the teachers and other staffers, appointed by it. He said that the vice chancellor exercised his powers beyond limit and initiated proceedings against the petitioner.

He pleaded with the court to set aside the proceedings being illegal.

The court after recording initial arguments suspended notification for department proceedings and issued notices to the respondents for December 16.