CJP directs HEC to submit complete record of private varsities

The court reprimanded the HEC and FIA for not taking action against universities violating the laws

LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) official to submit the complete record of the increasing number of private universities in Punjab. He also asked for the record of affiliated colleges and sub-campuses which may have been established illegally.

The CJP said private universities had ruined the standard of education in the country. He added students had been staging protests on the roads for their degrees, but no one was there to take action. The CJP reprimanded the HEC for not taking concrete steps against private universities allegedly fleecing students.

A two-judge bench, comprising the chief justice and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was hearing a petition against the failure to issue degrees to students of colleges affiliated to the University of South Asia (USA).

The HEC’s official told the bench that the University of South Asia was established in 2005, following which a charter was given by the Punjab government under a legal act. However, he said, there was a 10-year bar on the university to grant affiliation to colleges and establish its sub-campuses. He said the university violated the ban and granted affiliation to 27 colleges. Moreover, he said an approval from the chancellor or governor was mandatory for the grant of affiliation and creation of a sub-campus.

University of South Asia Vice Chancellor Mian Imran Masood informed the court that the permission of a chancellor was required for setting up sub-campus, while no permission was necessary for granting affiliation. He further submitted that the ban of 10 years had not been violated. However, he contended all the 27 affiliate colleges had been closed since 2016.

The university tried to bypass the laws and cheated students, Justice Ahsan observed. The CJP also reprimanded the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), saying it was sleeping when the university was playing with the future of students. Justice Nisar also questioned HEC over its silent role and asked no appropriate measures had been taken to deal with such universities.

The bench directed the FIA to probe the matter of the university and its affiliated colleges. Meanwhile, the bench also directed Advocate General Punjab to take up the matter of USA with chancellor/governor and reach find a solution, to the extent of degrees, as the future of students was at stake.

The CJP appointed two senior lawyers, Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri and Uzair Bhandari, as amicus curies (friends of the court) to render their assistance. The bench issued notices to all 27 private universities for Sunday (today).