SC orders swift filling of positions in universities

CJ Isa urges compliance with legal framework

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has directed authorities to swiftly fill vacant top-notch positions at public sector universities, including vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, rectors, registrars, and heads of faculties in accordance with the applicable laws.

The decision follows a petition by the All Public Universities BPS Teachers Association (APUBTA) highlighting deficiencies in the service structure for university teachers nationwide.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, in a detailed nine-page judgment, said that substantial public funds are allocated to these universities, which must adhere to legal requirements.

He criticised the current management practices, noting that many institutions operate contrary to their regulations, undermining their academic credibility and the value of their degrees.

"Unfortunately, we note that many are being run in contravention of their laws on the personal whim of those placed in charge thereof. These transgressions adversely affect academics, the reputation and standing of Pakistani universities and also undermine the degrees awarded by them," the ruling noted.

The three-member bench of the apex court, led by CJP Isa, directed on May 15 that the posts of the vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors, rectors, presidents, vice-presidents, registrars, heads of faculties and departments, controller of examination, and director finance—mentioned in the applicable laws—wherever lying vacant, should be filled in as soon as practicable.

This should be done in accordance with the applicable laws, it ordered.

The judgement highlighted that the public sector universities must comply with their respective laws, and if those in charge of them were disregarding the same for no justifiable reason, they must demonstrate that they were still competent to hold their respective positions.

"The laws governing these universities require that the meetings of syndicates, senates, boards of governors and boards of trustees, as applicable, must be periodically held."

It stated that the universities must not leave vacant important positions of vice-chancellors, presidents, vice presidents, registrars, heads of faculties and departments, controller of examination and director finance as in doing so they contravene the applicable laws.

"This state of affairs whereby the law is disregarded cannot be allowed to continue", said the order issued on Friday.

"We are informed that the HEC has prescribed an ideal ratio of academic to non-academic staff to be 1:1.5, which nearly all universities are failing to abide by in that the non-academic staff far exceeds the said ratio," the judgement mentioned.