When intervention is good

The apex court has stepped in to remove the vice-chancellors of three public-sector universities in Punjab — Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad Medical University and Rawalpindi Medical University — and replace them with individuals more worthy of the job. Each of these posts will be eventually decided by newly-constituted search committees. The effort to install a merit-based system in universities is a clear departure from the previous patronage-based system practised more frequently by the public sector where government employment is based largely on political connections as opposed to technical skills and abilities. This may be seen as untimely intervention by some segments but it is never too late to correct the course and right any wrong. We have consistently ignored merit systems and failed to limit the intrusion of politics into the staffing and management of the universities.

Another incumbent vice-chancellor of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) was suspended by the two-member bench for lack of transparency in her appointment. She fought off the claim that her appointment had been engineered by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal or had anything to do with her political connections. Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has also shown his frustration over the state of education in Punjab.

Despite its popularity, recruitment on the basis of merit appeals to the sense of fairness of all workers. Using seniority as a basis for promotions and other benefits has the disadvantage of rewarding employees who simply show up for work on a more-or-less regular basis, not necessarily doing anything above and beyond the call of duty.

Yet seniority-based promotion is more appealing to varsity managements in Pakistan. The court has let it be known that merit is the only route to take — now and always.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2018.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.