SHC stays process to appoint VCs to KU and two other varsities

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the provincial government, the university and board department and a search committee to maintain status quo with regard to the process of appointing vice chancellors to Karachi University and two other universities in the province.

The interim order came during a hearing of a petition of Prof Dr Mohammad Ahmed Qadri and others, who impugned the corrigendum published by the secretary of universities and the board department changing the qualification criteria for the appointment of VCs.

The petitioners’ counsel, Abrar Hasan, submitted that the universities and board department and the search committee were “in drill to give” benefit to a few candidates through the impugned corrigendum who had already applied, but seemingly to the exclusion of the petitioners.

He said the official respondents with view to accommodating their favourite applicants had thus opted to change the criteria/requisite qualification of a candidate in an afterthought manner through the corrigendum. He submitted that the official respondents had deprived the petitioners of their rights of participation in the process of appointment as vice chancellors.

According to the counsel, the eligibility criteria/requisite qualification of a candidate for the post of VC as per advertisement in newspapers is PHD from an HEC-recognised university, at least 25 quality research publications in national and international HEC-recognized research journals, 20 years of experience in teaching/academic position with a substantial experience of working in a senior/administrative position.

Besides, he said, the applicants must possess outstanding and inspiring leadership with strong interpersonal and influencing skills and proven academic excellence and must not be above 65 years of age on the closing date of the application.

He stated that the eligibility criteria of a candidate was later on changed through the impugned corrigendum by reducing the number of research publications to 15 from 25 and the age on the closing date of the application to 62 from above 65 years.

The counsel sated that the corrigendum issued on October 10 was not only illegal but in violation of articles 4, 9 and 25 of the constitution. He requested the court to declare it a nullity in law and of no legal effect.

A division bench headed by Justice Azizur Rehman, after the preliminary hearing of the petition, issued notices to the Sindh government, the university and boards department and the search committee, and ordered them to maintain status quo.