Summary for new DUHS VC to be sent to governor in three days, SHC told

The summary for appointment of a new vice chancellor for the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) will be sent to Governor Sindh within three days, the secretary to the chief minister for universities told the SHC on Friday.

The court was hearing the lawsuit filed by Prof Dr Rana Qamar Masood against the appointment of pro-VC Dr Khawar Saeed Jamali as acting VC of DUHS instead of Dr Masood Hameed.

The plaintiff’s counsel Khawaja Shamsul Islam has submitted that the impugned notifications have been issued in violation of the court’s order of April 26, 2016, that directed the search committee to complete the process of appointment of VC within 20 days. He submitted that contrary to the court’s orders, the pro-VC had been appointed as acting VC on March 15, despite him being of the general cadre.

The SHC single bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar inquired of the CM’s secretary, Naved Ahmed Sheikh, as to why the court’s order had not been implemented yet.  

The CM’s secretary submitted that a summary for appointment of VC would be sent to the Sindh governor within three days. Additional Secretary Governor House Syed Junaid Ahmed submitted that the summary shall be placed before the governor as soon as it was received. The court directed both secretaries to submit a progress report by April 19.

The counsel for pro-VC Khawar Saeed Jamali had filed an application questioning the maintainability and locus standi of the plaintiff to challenge the impugned notifications, as she was a retired employee of DUHS. The court directed the plaintiff’s counsel to submit a reply over who waived notice on the application. The court also took exception to the lawyers’ conduct, who exchanged heated words during the proceedings.