LAHORE: Justice Shahid Jameel Khan of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday ordered probe into alleged irregularities in the PhD entrance test for admission to the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) of the Punjab University.
The court directed the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences dean to inquire into irregularities and submit a report within 15 days.
Khurram Shehzad, a candidate for PhD admission to the ICS, had filed the petition.
Counsel for petitioner Syed Shahbaz Bukhari submitted that his client was a brilliant student, as he had secured first position in MPhil examination, and was quite confident that he would qualify the test, but he was declared fail.
He alleged that the petitioner was victimised on political basis during evaluation of his test.
He submitted that the petitioner had brought into the notice of the PU vice chancellor, dean and others that there were “incorrect” answers to five objective type questions in the answer book, which was the criterion for evaluation of the test.
He pointed out that the petitioner had attempted a few questions with right answers but his correct answers were marked as wrong. He submitted that the petitioner had presented references from books and theories to support his claim before vice chancellor and the Departmental Doctoral Programme Committee.
He alleged that the petitioner had reliably learnt that a failing candidate had been awarded additional marks, which helped him top the test. He submitted that result of the entrance test had been tampered with by awarding additional numbers to a few blue-eyed candidates.
He said that PU’s Deans Committee last year had declared additional marks illegal and cancelled PhD admissions to ICS although the department had declared failed candidates pass and interviewed them.
He submitted that after looking into the matter, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences Dean Prof Dr Zakria Zakir had recommended reevaluation of the answer book but his recommendations were not implemented
He requested the court that the recommendations of the dean might please be implemented and the university might please be asked to inquire into matter regarding “illegal and unlawful additional marks and tampering with the result of the entry test.
He also sought a disciplinary action against responsible officials.
