June 30, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 25, 1429

HYDERABAD, June 29: A group of candidates, who had appeared in the test for the jobs of lecturers in the Sindh Agriculture University, staged a demonstration outside the press club on Sunday to protest against what they called disregard of the rule of merit by the university’s vice-chancellor. They also held a mock funeral of merit.

Talking to journalists, Syed Qurban Ali Shah, Sarfaraz Ali, Heeralal and others alleged that the test was just a hoax and the vice- chancellor had selected his favourite people for appointment.

They appealed to the Sindh chief minister and education minister to order an inquiry into the matter and ensure appointment of lecturers purely on merit basis.

They decided to file a writ petition in the Sindh High Court against the injustice.

Meanwhile, sources told Dawn that at the syndicate meeting of the university held on Saturday, the teachers representatives had also voiced their dissent in the appointment of lecturers.

They also did not attend the formal luncheon meeting in protest.

The university authorities could not be contacted for comments.