The govt amended the law to remove a bar on the VC’s reappointment after retirement and to raise the age limit from 60 to 65 years. PHOTO: EXPRESS
A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal challenging the dismissal of a petition against the reappointment of Prof Mujahid Kamran as vice chancellor of the Punjab University by a single bench.
Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad had moved the petition against the reappointment of Prof Kamran. On December 17, 2002, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial dismissed the petition after the government amended the University Act of 2012 to remove a bar on the reappointment of a vice chancellor after retirement and to raise the age limit from 60 to 65 years.
Ahmad then appealed the single bench’s order, arguing that the petition was moved long before the amendment, which had no retrospective effect. He submitted that the amended act was against the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and that the Supreme Court had struck down the amended laws for the same reason.
He submitted that Prof Kamran had already completed a term as vice chancellor and his reappointment violated the Punjab University Act and the Supreme Court judgment against the reemployment of retired persons. The appointment had deprived other candidates for the job of their lawful rights, he said. The appellant alleged that Prof Kamran had a poor reputation because of reports of financial irregularities and favouritism printed in newspapers. He asked the court to set aside the appointment.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2013.
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