Merit or personal liking?: LHC orders investigation into laptop distribution program

University student filed petition saying that laptops were being distributed on personal liking instead of merit.

LAHORE: Hearing a petition filed by a university student, the Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the convener of Youth Development Program to investigate whether the laptops being distributed at Government University College (GCU) were on the basis of personal liking.

Asghar Javed, a student of MPhil (Urdu) at GCU, filed a petition on Monday claiming that the laptops being distributed as a part of the program initiated by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif were not based on merit.

Justice Umar Ata Bandyal, hearing the petition, ordered the convener of the program to investigate into the issue and also ordered the petitioner to approach the convener after seven days to resolve his grievance. The petition was disposed of after the orders were passed.

Javed, through his counsel Advocate Rana Ali Imran, had submitted that the laptops were being distributed on the basis of political and personal liking. According to the merit system, students deserving laptops should secure 60 per cent marks in annual exams and 70 per cent in semester system, he maintained.

He added that he had cleared two semesters and gained 81.27 per cent marks with 3.25 GPA, but was not given the laptop while three students of the GCU, who did not fulfill the criteria, were being given laptops.

Javed further said that three students, including Saira and Saman, are also working as lecturers at different educational institutions and also have GPAs lower than his but have received the laptops.

He requested the court to ensure merit in distribution of these laptops.