KHUJAND, March 6, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The hearing for a lawsuit filed by the Sughd prosecutor’s office was adjourned on March 5 until March 10.

As it had been reported earlier, a court hearing for the law suit began on February 22.  The prosecutor’s office filed the lawsuit, following an application by the 3rd year student Usmon Siddiqov over rise in study fees.

The prosecutor’s office requests that the decision by the university’s academic council of April 8, 2009 on raising study fees for the 2nd-6th year students be overruled.

The academic council adopted this decision to support completion of the construction of a new building handed over to jurisdiction of the university.

Prosecutor Zavqijon Giyoyev says that by raising study fees the university administration broke government’s decree No 210 of May 12, 2009 on cost calculation for products (works and services) at enterprises and organizations.  “Since a higher educational institution is not commercial organization, construction expenses should not be included into the cost of services rendered by the university to students,” the prosecutor said.

In the meantime, Gadoiboy Ahmadov, a lawyer with the university, says they were not aware of the mentioned decree.  He justified the decision to raise study fees by saying that the university does not have money to complete the construction of the building handed over to the university’s jurisdiction.

According to Usmon Siddiqov, the judge questioned members of the academic council, accountant and chairman of the trade unions at the university on March 5 and ordered the adjournment until March 10.