The case of a student activist who has brought his university to court to challenge its campus election rules - the first time in the country's history - has been put off today much to the disappointment those in the packed courtroom.

About 50 students were in court this morning to show support for their colleague, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) student Mohaziri Shamsuddin, who is the applicant in this landmark case.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court adjourned the much-awaited hearing after the Attorney-General's Chambers failed to file a written submission on the case to the court on time.

Senior federal counsel Suzana Atan from the AG's Chambers had submitted her written submission today as the court began its proceedings, but this was a week late as the agreed deadline was Dec 31.

"The senior federal counsel has only served the written submission and objections to us this morning," argued Hanipa Maidin, who is counsel for the UIA student activist.

At this juncture, judicial commissioner Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim told Suzana that the senior federal counsel should have filed her submission earlier so that the judge can prepare for the case.

However, Suzana contended that there was "no requirement under the law" for her to do so and argued that her grounds of objections to the leave application sought by the UIA student are similar to the submission that had been filed earlier by the university's counsel.

Hanipa nevertheless said the UIA's counsel's submissions should only be a supporting document to the AG's Chambers submissions. At the last hearing in September, the court had allowed UIA's application to participate in the ex-parte application.

After hearing arguments from both parties, Wan Afrah adjourned the hearing to allow Hanipa and his team time to study the AG's Chambers objections to the student's application. She fixed Feb 24 for next hearing.

Hanipa was assisted by Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramli and Abdullah Abdul Karim, while UIA was represented by S Nantha Balan and Norliza Rasool Khan.

The AG's Chambers in the previous hearing had informed the court its intention to object Mohaziri's application for a judicial review on the UIA's election rules, and that this would be based on the grounds that the decision made by the university was 'non-justiciable' (cannot be reviewed by the court).

New election rules

Mohaziri, a final-year student in Kulliyah of Human Sciences and Revealed Knowledge, is seeking leave to challenge UIA's campus election rules , which among others, required candidates contesting for the university's students representative council to have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.8 and above.

He contends that the new requirements - which also include passing a public speaking test and interview sessions conducted by the university - were unlawful and violated the right to equality under the federal constitution.

Mohaziri also claimed that the university's election commission - headed by its deputy vice-chancellor - was not the legal body to conduct the election and that it should be organised by the student affairs board.

Many students activists have argued that such electoral rules have favoured the 'pro-establishment' student camp, which are backed by campus authorities.

The pro-government students took control of students representative councils in all local universities - including the tradition 'anti-establishment' bastion of UIA - at last September's nationwide campus elections.

However, their unprecedented victory was marred by a boycott launched by their rivals in five major universities and various accusation of electoral irregularities.