U-turn on plagiarism cases raises questions

An investigation into the recent unanimous decision of the Karachi University syndicate to withdraw cases of plagiarism against three senior teachers shows that the decision was taken not only in disregard of past resolutions of the syndicate but also of the results of multiple inquiries conducted by the university over four years, writes Faiza Ilyas for Dawn.

Karachi University sources question the validity of the decision, given that the teachers had been charged under the ambit of misconduct (and not plagiarism under the Higher Education Commission policy) as mentioned in the university act.

The university was earlier producing evidence and giving arguments against the teachers in front of inquiry officers appointed by its former vice-chancellor. The individuals who conducted the inquiries, established charges of plagiarism and later endorsed the reports included two retired judges and one serving judge of the Sindh High Court. However, no note of dissent was recorded at the syndicate meetings when the cases were withdrawn.
Full report on the Dawn site