Khyber college: PHC stays appointment process for principal

Petitioner said it was done in absence of chairperson for selection committee


Our Correspondent May 25, 2016
Peshawar High Court. PHOTO: PPI

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court stayed the appointment process for the principal of Khyber Medical College (KMC). In addition, notices were issued to health secretary, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and the secretary of Khyber Medical and Teaching Hospital Board of Governors.

The stay order was issued by a division bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth and Justice Musarrat Hilali, while hearing a writ petition filed by Professor Dr Jamshid Ali through his counsel Mian Mohibullah Kakakhel.

Sans rules?

Kakakhel told the bench the petitioner has a PhD degree in pharmacology, who has also served as the head of the pharmacology department and vice chancellor of KMC.

He added the petitioner had applied for the post of principal/dean of the college when it was recently advertised by the provincial government – a selection committee was formed to make appointment on the post.

However, Kakakhel added, the provincial government expressed reservations over the appointment criterion and written a letter to the PMDC for guidance.

In response, PMDC said under the Medical and Teaching Institutions Reforms Act, 2015 any candidate applying for the post would have to resign from his government employment. Kakakhel said the MTI rules for KTH were made in June 2015, but have yet to be approved.

‘Flawed’ selection

Nevertheless, the petitioner was not short-listed and was excluded from the entire process. Kakakhel said there were clear Terms of References for appointment of candidates by the selection committee that will prepare a list of eligible candidates and shortlist only three from all.

“If the committee fails to find a suitable person out of the shortlisted candidate then it has to interview all those who applied for the post,” the petition read. Therefore, the petitioner requested the bench to order the authorities to call him for an interview.

Since the appointment process was carried out with a chairperson in the selection committee, the petitioner said, it should be declared null.

The bench was also asked to order the implementation of PMDC’s selection rules and stay the appointment till final decision of the writ petition was made. After hearing the arguments, the bench stayed the appointment and issued notices to respondents.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2016.

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