Appointment of acting VCs at SU creates rifts between teacher groups

VC Dr Abida Tahirani is on a two-week leave to the UK

HYDERABAD: The appointment of acting vice-chancellors (VCs) for Sindh University (SU) has created rifts among the two teachers' groups in the varsity. VC Dr Abida Tahirani is away on a two-week health visit to the UK and will assume charge on February 18.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad has appointed two acting VCs in a span of three days. On February 5, the governor assigned the charge to Prof Imdad Ismaili, who served as the acting VC of SU for several months until Tahirani's appointment. The decision was welcomed by SU Teachers' Association's (Suta) president Ayaz Keerio.

But it elicited a backlash from Dr Arfana Mallah-led group of teachers, which lost Suta elections to Dr Azhar Shah's panel last year. They warned of non-cooperation and protest. The governor apparently bowed to the pressure and, on Saturday, appointed Shah Abul Latif University's VC Dr Parveen Shah as the acting VC.

The Suta has now opposed the move and warned of protests from today. Both the teachers' groups are also citing technical issues concerning the governor's involvement in the appointment and giving the charge to a VC of another university.

"We don't accept the governor's interference and encroachment in the university's affairs," said Dr Mallah. "Imposing this controversial person [Dr Ismaili] in disregard of the VC's recommendation is a violation of the law."

Talking to The Express Tribune, she argued that the Sindh Universities and Institutes Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2014, and its antecedent the Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2013, empower the chief minister to appoint the VC. "The VC recommended the CM assign the acting charge to Dr Pervez Pathan," she said.

Meanwhile, the Suta has opposed both Pathan's nomination, because his official capacity is a faculty dean in comparison to Ismaili being a pro-vice-chancellor, and Dr Shah's, because she is considered an outsider.

A Suta meeting on Sunday announced they will observe black days from Monday to Wednesday. "Suta's executive council condemns VC Tahirani's illegal nomination of a junior dean [Dr Pathan], who is also contesting the syndicate elections," said the statement issued after the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2015.