Appointments and promotions: Process to approve experts at PU postponed

Administration takes decision in light of LHC verdict which calls for permanent VC.

LAHORE: The process of approving experts, who will look into appointments and promotions at the Punjab University, will once again go through the selection board after it was reportedly approved against the rules and regulations.

The matter will now be taken up after a permanent vice chancellor is appointed at PU.

The PU Selection Board had reportedly approved a list of 2,000 experts in its February 28 meeting in the absence of heads of departments. As these officials were statutory members of the board, the approval was against the university calendar.

However, a Punjab University spokesman denied these reports. He said the administration also postponed selection board meetings which were scheduled for May 3, 4 and 6. He added the administration also sought lists of more experts from the departments in the forthcoming meetings. The spokesman said these moots would be held after approval of all the lists, according to university rules.

At the same time, the university administration halted the appointment process of professors and associate professors in light of the Lahore High Court judgment which said a permanent VC must take over at the helm of affairs.

He categorically denied rumors that meetings had been postponed for other reasons. In a press statement, the spokesman said that lists of experts for appointments on faculty positions were approved by the university’s selection board in the February 28 meeting. He claimed the faculties, syndicate and Punjab Public Service Commission were all present.

He assured the lists were presented before the board through the proper channels and all formalities had been fulfilled. The spokesman stated the selection board discussed the lists of experts at length and they were recommended by the syndicate as per the rules.

Earlier reports stated that the PU Selection Board, in its February 28 meeting, approved a list of around 2,000 experts. However, this was in violation of university rules as the heads of departments were not invited. Regulations stated that the heads of departments were bound to forward a list of experts in consultation with faculty members, but this was not followed.

When contacted, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir revealed the process of appointment of professors and associate professors had been postponed. He confirmed the decision was taken because the LHC order.

He said that the matter would be taken up by whoever becomes the permanent vice chancellor of PU. Dr Mueen assured he would continue with the process if he was appointed as the varsity lacked senior academicians. The VC added he was anxious to move forward with the appointments.

“The administration had sought the syndicate’s approval and after getting it, carried through with the process as per the rules and regulations. The whole process, as described in the university calendar, has been followed,” he asserted.

According to insiders, the administration, in an alleged move to manipulate the process, presented a 21-page additional list of experts before the syndicate in a meeting held on April 8. The selection board had authorised the registrar to update the list, provided it was finalised in consultation with the faculty. According to rules, this is beyond the registrar’s authority.

The sources said experts were removed from the panels of professors and associate professors in the February 20 meeting. A new panel, which was received on March 21, was included on the agenda. The updated lists, also not presented before the selection board, were in addition to the new document presented as a current agenda item.

According to the university calendar, the selection board lacked the authority to delegate its functions to any other person or authority. A former university official said only the syndicate had such powers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2017.