Eyewash: Assembly passes yet another 'discriminatory' law for varsities

School Education Standard and Curriculum Bill and Postgraduate College for Medical Science Bill introduced

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly on Monday passed yet another law regulating the appointments and terms of offices of the vice-chancellors of public universities in the province.

In addition to this, the Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani referred the Sindh Medical and Dental Council Bill 2014 to the standing committee for review. The standing committee will send it back within two weeks when it will be taken up again by the assembly. Meanwhile, the Sindh School Education Standard and Curriculum Bill and the Postgraduate College for Medical Science Sindh Bill were introduced in the Assembly.

Introducing 'The Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2014,' the provincial law minister, Sikandar Madhro, claimed that with passing the new amendment, the Sindh government had done away with the discrepancy in the appointment of VCs to one particular institution. "It would have been discriminatory if we had only validated the extension of DUHS vice-chancellor," he said. "We have now formed a uniform policy which will be applied to all public sector universities."

However, on closer inspection of the said bill, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, it emerged that the said amendment itself discriminates between the universities. In fact, it revalidates the ordinance allowing a third term for the vice-chancellors of the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET). In the case of 18 other universities and institutes, the earlier law has been retained, allowing the vice-chancellors only two terms on the post.

It may be recalled that the person-specific Dow University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill had drawn much criticism from academic quarters and had even been challenged in the Sindh High Court. The particular law had allegedly been passed to allow the varsity's vice-chancellor, Dr Masood Hameed Khan, to retain the post for a third term.

The new bill reiterates that all vice-chancellors will now be appointed by the Governor, who is the chancellor of all public universities in the province, on the advice of the chief minister. The VCs shall hold office for a term of four years, which may be extended for one more term if the Chancellor deems fit.

The contenders for the post of the VC shall be filtered by a search committee, comprising highly qualified professionals. This committee will interview and short-list three names to the chief minister who will then finalise the appointment and forward his recommendation to the Governor.

Condominium bill

The MPAs also passed the 'Sindh Condominium Bill, 2014', which aims to regulate the maintenance of services, amenities, façade, parking and common areas in public projects by the owners' union or society through registered maintenance companies.

Arms bill

The assembly also revised the arms licence policy, 2012, to allow licence-holders to carry the weapons across the country.  "We had passed the law in 2012, but the permission to carry weapons was limited to Sindh," said Mandhro. "We are now extending the permission for the whole country."

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members raised the issue of de-weaponisation, urging the government to start a campaign to make the whole country free of weapons. Pakistan Peoples Party lawmakers, however, disagreed. "Licence-holders should be permitted to carry their weapons for their safety wherever they go in the country."

Water crisis and role of courts

As the session started with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in chair, the MQM MPA Muhammad Hussain moved his call attention notice towards the severe water scarcity in the city. "The total water demand is 1,000 to 1,100 MGD, but the available capacity is 550 MGD out of which only three to four MGD is being provided in some areas of the city," he said. He demanded to constitute a house committee to investigate the matter.

Sindh local bodies minister Sharjeel Inam Memon blamed the illegal water hydrants for the crisis. "The government has demolished around 89 illegal hydrants, but the court has issued a stay order to some of them," he said, adding that despite the government's campaign, 12 illegal hydrants were still working because of court orders.

Appointment against rules

The ruling PPP MPA Nadir Magsi complained against his own government's policy of violating rules in the appointment of teachers and other officers in his hometown, Kamber Shahdadkot district.

During the question answer session, he said, "Many officers and teachers are still appointed on deputation in various departments.  Change will not come until we discourage nepotism and favouritism."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2014.