A COURT has ordered the University of Goroka (UoG) council to reinstate former pro-vice-chancellor Dr Teng Waninga, after it found that the council’s decision to terminate him was unlawful and declared it null and void. The National Court found that the council’s action was illegal and there were errors of law committed in the decision-making process, resulting in the council’s decision of March 26 to terminate him. Justice David Cannings, on Tuesday, ruled that there was a breach of natural justice and illegality involved in the decision. Dr Waninga was charged with 19 disciplinary offences and later found guilty of 11 of them on Feb 14 by a staff disciplinary committee.
The disciplinary committee recommended he be demoted. Dr Wanniga, through a letter written to chancellor Joseph Sukwianomb, explained that he was unaware of the committee meetings regarding the matter and was never given a fair hearing. His letter was regarded as an appeal by an appeals committee constituted by Sukwianomb and was dismissed, but sustained the recommendation by the disciplinary committee. However, the university council on March 26 reviewed the appeal committee’s decision which endorsed the disciplinary committee’s recommendation and terminated Dr Waninga. Justice Cannings found that it was beyond the powers of the staff disciplinary committee to recommend demotion for Waninga after he was found guilty of disciplinary offences. Justice Canning’s also found that an appeals committee was unlawfully constituted by Sukwianomb which failed to conduct a fair hearing of Waninga’s appeal. The council had erred in law when it reviewed the decision of appeals committee, which was to dismiss Dr Waninga’s appeal to confirm the penalties recommended by disciplinary committee to reprimand, demote and ban Dr Waninga from various activities. The National/PNGEducationNews Next Early Education Vital, Says PNG Education Official Share your Inspirational Stories, Education Issues, Education Talk. Let your voice be heard: Send us your stories to us: email : pngedunews@gmail.com Share this
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