KP Assembly passes Universities Amendment Bill

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday unanimously passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2015 by adopting further amendments to 16 clauses of the Universities Act, 2012.
The bill was unanimously passed as the amendments introduced by opposition members either lapsed due to absence of or withdrawal by, the movers. The main amendments included changes in the appointment and removal of vice-chancellors of public sector universities, increasing the numbers of senate members from 23 to 29, and giving representation to students and other employees of the universities.
According to clause 3 of the bill, there shall be a vice-chancellor who shall be a person of eminence having PhD or equivalent qualification with proven ability of significant contribution to higher education as a teacher, researcher and academic administrator and shall be appointed in such manner as provided in schedule II.
For general universities, such as University of Peshawar, doctorate in any discipline and good academic record is enough. However, for specialised university doctorate should be in the field that the university specialises like for the Khyber Medical University, MBBS or equivalent medical degree from a recognised university with fellowship in relevant specialisation or PhD in a relevant discipline, for University of Engineering & Technology and University of Technology, Nowshera, PhD in the field of engineering or technology and for University of Agriculture PhD in the field of agriculture is a must along with other conditions mentioned in the bill.
According to new amendments, the chancellor shall, upon the recommendations of the senate, remove the vice-chancellor on account of allegations of gross misconduct, inefficiency, corruption, violation of budgetary provisions, moral turpitude or mental incapacity after a resolution passed with simple majority of the senate instead of the earlier procedure of two-third majority.