Irked at the Sindh government’s failure to submit its reply on a plea filed against the Sindh Universities Amendment Act 2018, the Sindh High Court sought a report from the provincial government on Wednesday along with a detailed reply.
A two-member bench, led by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, was hearing the petition challenging the amendment.
The court expressed annoyance at the provincial assembly’s delay in submitting its response.
The petitioner has contended that according to the Constitution of Pakistan, the Sindh governor is empowered to appoint the vice chancellors of varsities. Transferring these powers to the Sindh chief minister is in violation of the law, the petition argues, accusing the CM of appointing officers based on favouritism.
Directing the relevant officials to submit their reply immediately, the court adjourned the hearing till September 14.
Appointments stayed
Meanwhile, a two-member bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Adnanul Karim Memon stayed the appointments of three lecturers in two departments of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology (FUUAST).
Hearing a petition challenging the appointment process, the court granted a stay on the appointments of three lecturers in the varsity’s international relations and sociology departments.
The bench, however, allowed the university authorities to complete the process of appointment of professors and assistant professors.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the test administered for appointment of teachers was out of syllabus and that led to several candidates facing difficulties in clearing the exam.
Separately, a petition was filed before the court against the non-publication of results for appointments of teachers at FUUAST.
The petitioner contended that the varsity’s registrar had published an advertisement in the newspaper on June 11, 2017 inviting job applications for different positions from grade 18 to 21. The applicants appeared before the selection board on July 18, 2021, stated the petitioner, adding that he appeared before the board for an interview for the post of assistant professor in the university’s law department. However, the results of the successful candidates have not been published so far, argued the petitioner. He prayed the court to direct the relevant authorities to publish the results.
FUUAST chancellor, vice chancellor, registrar and other officials were named as respondents.
Dilapidated building
Another bench comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Muhammad Faisal Alam allowed the immediate hearing of a plea seeking demolition of a dilapidated apartment building PECHS.
The petition filed by residents of PECHS Block-II contended stated that the structure of a residential building in the area had weakened. The petitioners sought immediate demolition of the building to prevent it from collapsing and endangering human lives.
The petition upheld that no institution, including the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), was willing to take action in this regard. The petitioners prayed the court to direct the SBCA and other relevant authorities to take immediate action.
The court admitted the petition for hearing on September 28 and issued notices to the local government secretary, East deputy commissioner, SBCA director, PECHS authorities and the building owner, Muhammad Farooq Dana, seeking their replies.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2021.
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