Summary Lahore High Court suspended an NCA officer’s dismissal, questioned legal procedure and ordered his appeal decided within 15 days.
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suspended the dismissal of a National College of Arts (NCA) administrative officer and sought responses from the relevant authorities.
Justice Malik Awais Khalid announced the decision while hearing a petition filed by NCA Administrative Officer Sultan Qamarul Zaman against his removal from service.
During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the NCA vice chancellor had dismissed his client without any legal justification. The lawyer maintained that under the applicable rules, the vice chancellor could not exercise dismissal powers unless the allegations had first been proven through a formal inquiry committee.
The court was requested to set aside the dismissal order and restore the petitioner’s position.
Expressing concern over what appeared to be a termination carried out contrary to regulations, Justice Khalid summoned the NCA registrar in person and rejected the institution’s response, describing it as vague and insufficient.
The judge also remarked that if such circumstances persisted, the court could consider issuing a stay order against the entire recruitment process at the institution.
The court directed the chairman of the NCA Board of Governors to decide the petitioner’s appeal within 15 days in accordance with the law.
After hearing preliminary arguments, the court suspended the dismissal order, issued notices to the parties and adjourned further proceedings for one month.
