The Lahore High Court has issued notices for July 13 to Punjab University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran and Institute of Communication Studies Director Professor Dr Mugheesuddin in a petition alleging discrimination against PhD students.
Two PhD students, Ifra Iftikhar and Mubashra Sultan, contended that although they have passed their examinations, a requisite condition prior to submission of synopsis but they were not allowed to submit their synopsis and were asked to get readmission.
They said their academic record bore testimony to the fact that they were excellent students and were admitted for PHD vide notification issued on February 16, 2000.
The petitioner said they tried to submit their synopsis, in the office of Dr Mughees before deadline but his staff refused to accept it in his absence. They further said they approached Dr Shafique Jilandhary, ex-acting director of the institute, who granted them permission to submit the synopsis.
The staff, however, did not allow them to submit the synopsis, they said. They said when Dr Mughees returned from Umrah, he asked them to make an application for extension of time for submission of the synopsis.
When they made the application, Dr Mughees, through a letter on October 2, 2007, declined their request on the grounds that these were not submitted on time. The students said when they filed an appeal before the vice chancellor, he advised them to get re-admission under regular PhD degree. They said the impugned order was passed in an arbitrary manner and against the law.