Vice chancellor appointments: Higher education secy summoned

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought personal appearance of the Punjab Higher Education Commission secretary in a case regarding appointment of vice chancellors at four public sector universities of the province.

Earlier, the court had stayed the process. The varsities include the Punjab University, the Lahore College for Women University, the University of Sargodha and the Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology, Multan.

Dr Asmatullah of the Zoology Department at the Punjab University had challenged the process, saying that the Punjab Higher Education Commission and the Higher Education Department had initiated the process for appointment of the VCs without lawful authority. He said search committees formed by the government were illegal.

He said the powers to appoint VCs rested with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He asked the court to direct the government to appoint the VCs in accordance with the law and observe merit.

The government’s counsel said the process for the appointment of the VCs had been in accordance with law.

Justice Shahid Karim adjourned hearing till March 15 and directed the secretary to appear in person to record his statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2016.