Two varsities decision displeases high-ups

LAHORE
The recent anticipatory orders resulting in reshuffling on statutory seats at Government College University (GCU) and University of Education (UOE) have attracted attention of the Higher Education Department and the Governor’s House, it is learnt.
A meeting of the Higher Education Department (HED) Secretary with Vice Chancellors (VCs) of the two universities over this issue has been scheduled for Nov. 4 (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, sources privy to the developments said the governor’s office has also directed both the varsities to withdraw their respective notifications since governor/chancellor had not granted approval in this regard. However this development could not be confirmed. The officials of the two varsities also expressed ignorance saying no such notification had been received so far.
It is pertinent to mention here that recently the VCs of GCU and UOE had changed registrar and controller of exams (at GCU) and registrar (at UOE) in anticipation of the governor’s approval.
The steps taken by the new VCs, the two were notified on August 27, raised many eyebrows within their respective universities in particular and academic circles in general. Through his anticipatory orders the GCU VC Dr Hassan Amir Shah assigned charge of the post of registrar to senior most additional registrar Saboor Ahmad Khan and that of Controller of Examination to the senior most additional controller Ms Huma Saeed in anticipation of the governor’s approval.
Similarly the UOE VC Dr Rauf-i-Azam had assigned the charge of the post of Registrar to Dr Manzoom Akhtar.
The sources said since the governor/chancellor had not yet granted approval the steps taken were wrong, if not illegal. They further said it was therefore the governor’s office had now directed the VCs of both the varsities to withdraw their respective notifications.
A spokesperson of GCU said the former registrar and controller were from the tenure track faculty and their appointment on administrative posts was a gross violation of Tenure Track Statutes laid by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. “In consonance with the rules and regulations laid dawn in TTS statutes and serious objections and directions of HEC, the university has no other option except to give the most senior additional registrar the additional charge of the Registrar Office and most senior Additional Controller the charge of Examination Department for which the summaries had already been moved to the Chancellor without any prejudice.” It is also pertinent to mention here that earlier talking to The News the UOE VC had also defended his decision saying it was based on good faith to improve administrative affairs of the university as the individual previously serving on this post served for long despite retirement after reaching superannuation. When contacted, Secretary, HED, Irfan Ali confirmed the development vis-à-vis his upcoming meeting with the VCs on Wednesday. To a question, he said the VCs could not take such decisions without approval of the governor/chancellor. He said the meeting was aimed to sensitize them about such issues since both of them were new VCs.