Clinging on for third tenure: SU VC challenges his removal in order

Teachers’ representatives claim the governor’s order to grant extension is no longer valid.

HYDERABAD: Sindh University vice-chancellor (VC) Nazir Mughal, has challenged his removal in the Sindh High Court, which issued a stay till January 16.

The beleaguered vice-chancellor has been surviving frequent teachers’ protests for the last two years but he has stuck to his guns. Unwilling to relinquish his post, despite having completed his second tenure in the office, Mughal has now gone to court.

The VC’s ongoing term ended on January 8, however, he maintained in his petition that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad gave him a two-year service extension, days before the Sindh Assembly enacted the Sindh Universities (Amendment) Act, 2013. The act prohibits more than two terms to a VC but Mughal’s petition has challenged this prohibition.



The Sindh government, in an advertisement on October 31, announced vacancies for the posts of vice-chancellors in the five government universities in Sindh, which included Sindh University. Following the announcement, a search committee was formed comprising MNA Azra Pechuho, former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, and retired bureaucrat and vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui. Mughal has objected to both the search committee and the advertisement in his petition.

The SHC on Tuesday issued notices to the provincial government to submit reply on August 16.

Teachers’ reaction

The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa) and Sindh University Teachers Association (Suta) have disapproved of Mughal’s extension. “After the promulgation of the Act, the governor can no longer interfere in the university’s matters,” said Fapuasa’s provincial president Prof Asad Raza Abidi.

Pointing out a technical flaw, he said Mughal’s tenure ended on January 8 but the governor issued his extension order in mid-August last year. Abidi also demanded immediate closure of the higher education cell in Governor House as the act has transferred the higher education authority to the chief minister.

Suta’s general-secretary Dr Arfana Mallah said they are consulting legal advisers. For her, the act lays it down clearly, that no third term extension can be granted to a vice-chancellor.”This extension is also a violation of the appointment norms,” she said adding that a VC has to apply anew for this post after completion of the first term. The search committee announces the vacancy, short lists candidates and takes interview before re-appointing a VC for the second term, she said.

The teachers’ representatives also complained that the three-member search committee has not held interviews for the post of Sindh University’s VC. The SU senior teachers, among others, are applicants for the job. The Express Tribune tried to contact members of the committee but they did not respond to explain why they are not calling the applicants for interviews.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2014.