25 finance director posts in public varsities to be filled as per law, SHC told

The Sindh High Court has disposed of a petition challenging the criteria of the appointment of finance directors to public universities, following a statement of the provincial law officer that the appointment to fill the 25 vacant posts of finance directors will be made per the law.

The petition has challenged the eligibility criteria for the recruitment of finance directors I public sector universities. He said the passing percentage for the written test had been increased from 50 per cent to 60 per cent in 2019, but now it has been reduced to 40 per cent because out of 70 candidates, only seven had been able to pass.

He also said that more than 25 posts of finance director at public sector universities are lying vacant, while the passing percentage of the written test has been unnecessarily increased to 60 per cent without assigning any reasons.

He pointed out that it would be counterproductive to the purpose of the recruitment process of the finance director’s post in public sector universities. The petitioner said that the respondents have the authority to formulate policy and decide the standard for the purpose of the recruitment process. However, he added, there had to be rational reasonableness by placing certain restrictions; otherwise, it would be difficult for chartered accountants holding master’s degrees to be appointed as finance directors at public sector universities.

He requested the court to direct the respondents to consider candidates who had earlier obtained 50 per cent marks in the previous test for the forthcoming selection process. The provincial law officer submitted a statement mentioning that the grievance of the petitioner had been redressed as the caretaker chief minister had approved a summary for the appointment of five finance directors to public sector universities after completing the due process and recommendations of a search committee. He submitted that the petitioner has no locus standi to file the petition and it must be dismissed.

The petitioner submitted that 25 posts of director finance were still lying vacant at public universities and only five have been filled. The provincial law officer submitted that a similar legal procedure would followed for the appointment of director finance to the remaining public sector universities. The court after the statement of the law officer disposed of the petition with the observation that in case the petitioner has grievance in the appointment of director finance to the remaining vacant posts he can file a fresh petition with the court.