Terminated UPNG students 2016

Filed in the Human Rights track of the Waigani National Court, the case sought a declaration of the court to nullify the purported students reaffirmation form, which the UPNG administration issued to them to sign when the suspension of semester one was lifted.

Justice David Cannings dismissed the case last Friday for want of prosecution after the SRC showed no interest in the case. Neither their lawyer, Laken Lepatu, nor the former president Kenneth Rapa had been appearing in court for the matter since June.

Darrel Kamen went before Justice Leka Nablu this morning, asking the court to have the two cases that were filed for judicial review dismissed.

He told the court the all the students’ appeals that were filed to the university's Appeals Committee after they were permanently excluded went in their favour and they are back in class.

Their appeals are upheld by the university on Oct 6. They have since been allowed back on campus and are sitting their exams.

He said there was nothing left to proceed with in the National Court from the Judicial Review cases.

The permanent exclusion of applicants; Livai Kuaken, Arthur Amos, Jamie Sali, Hercules Jim, Alois Kaluweh, Chris Kipalan and Steward Thoke, is now temporarily stayed by the court until the matter returns on Oct 20.    

Their lawyer, Ramcy Pariwa, will now have 14 days to file for judicial review and serve to respondents; Dr Mange Matui as acting pro vice-chancellor, academic & student affairs of the University of PNG, Prof Albert Mellam as vice-chancellor of University of PNG, UPNG and the State.

An inter-parte (all party) hearing is expected on Oct 20.