Sindh University teachers resent Governor House’s intervention

Governor House spokesman says nothing done contrary to law and Universities Act

KARACHI: The Sindh University Teachers Association (Suta) has expressed displeasure on recent intervention by the office of Governor House in the Sindh University affairs.

Suta president Dr Arfana Mallah in a statement said principal secretary to governor issued a charge sheet to vice chancellor of the University of Sindh with certain allegations. She said the university teachers reject such charge sheet and considers it a pretext to appoint any “blue eyed boy” without due legal process of appointment.

Earlier, the Governor House issued a charge sheet letter to VC of Sindh University with certain allegations and news published in some papers that the Governor House wanted to directly appoint a senior teacher, head of Criminology Department Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat as VC of the university. It is pertinent to mention here that search committee for the appointment of vice chancellors of public sector universities in the province has selected Dr Burfat as vice chancellor of University of Karachi.

Talking to The News, Dr Arfana Mallah said teachers will protest this ill-advised move of Governor House, which indicates biased attitude towards educational institutions of Sindh. She added that the Sindh University’s due and legal promotions and appointments were pending since one and half years. She said it should also be noted that except the University of Sindh, all other universities of the province held selection boards even during ban. Moreover, the University of Karachi and NED University even didn’t bother to take prior permission and had made appointments via syndicate by quoting letter of special permission issued to Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur. It is also a matter of surprise that principal secretary of the governor himself is the member of syndicate, hence he is well aware of all such appointments held during the ban but no such charge sheet came for other universities. Conversely, the University of Sindh followed due legal procedure and the CM House issued letter for appointment of faculty as per code and followed the letter strictly both in words and spirit and there is nothing mentioned that no other appointments can be done without permission.

Replying to a question, Dr Mallah said teachers of Sindh University expect that the governor being a chancellor of the university, a custodian and head of university senate, which has authority to approve criteria, would be aware of such powers and also his powers. “Hence, the HEC has no power to intervene or direct any university or dictate its rules. If, the HEC is so worried, where are HEC rules for Karachi University, which means it is deliberate effort to malign our alma mater, and demoralise our highly qualified faculty,” she said.

Dr Mallah said Suta has concern over long delay in appointment of permanent vice chancellor of the University of Sindh through search committee according to law and after the legislation of Sindh Assembly, the governor has no role in appointment affairs of public sector universities, but unfortunately, the Governor House role remained negative and biased towards institutes of the province outside Karachi.

She called upon Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah to appoint permanent vice chancellor via search committee immediately to end this adhocism in the campus where the fate of 31,000 students is on stake. She warned the authorities, including Sindh Governor House, that any direct appointment without due process will be resisted by the faculty.

Spokesman for the Sindh Governor House Saleem said that since the amendment in Universities Act, chancellor's office is acting upon the advice of CM Sindh in different administrative affairs of the universities. He insisted that nothing has been done contrary to law and Universities Act.