Court refuses students' applications

An urgent application by UPNG SRC President Kenneth Rapa and students against the administration has been refused by the National Court.

Justice David Cannings heard the application this afternoon and refused the order sought.

The students went to court through their lawyer seeking to restrain UPNG Registrar Jennifer Popat and the university administration enforcing that the students’ sign the reaffirmation form.

Justice Cannings refused the order sought saying the case was not strong enough to warrant an injunction to be issued.

He instead set a hearing date for a trial next week Wednesday at 3pm.

In the trial, Rapa and the students will be seeking a declaration of the court to nullify the purported students reaffirmation form the UPNG administration issued to students to sign when the suspension of semester one was lifted.

The judge ordered parties to file and serve affidavits by June 27. Students will be restrained to evidence filed in as affidavits unless the court allows.

(Caption: File picture)

Author: 
Sally Pokiton