THE Punjab universities vice-chancellors are in unison to say that any vice-chancellor’s anticipatory orders not approved by the Syndicate become null and void and all appointments stand terminated. The entire responsibility of such anticipatory orders rests with the vice-chancellor concerned.

The vice-chancellors agree that they should work within the ambit of law and exercise available powers to run universities in a smooth manner. They said that they observed the amendments in the Punjab universities’ acts and faced no problems.

The Punjab government had amended Punjab universities’ acts following Punjab Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee’s observations that vice-chancellors were appointing their favourite teachers on top slots by giving additional charge to them as well as creating posts and appointing officials without any check and balance.

The amended act was gazette notified on Nov 14, 2012, which asked the VCs to forward their anticipatory orders to all Syndicate members and Pro-Chancellor within seven days and get them ratified by the Syndicate within 45 days.

Since the amended act came into force, the Punjab University administration did not organise Syndicate meeting within the 45 days and dragged it over 100 days. The PU Syndicate meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran himself on March 2 did not approve VC’s anticipatory orders which were issued before the last 45 days i.e. Jan 14, 2013. During these two months, the VC had issued over 65 anticipatory orders. It is learnt that the officials and teachers appointed through the “unapproved” anticipatory orders are still working which somehow amounts to challenging the authority of university’s top statutory body – Syndicate.

University of Engineering and Technology Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Akram said the anticipatory orders not approved by the Syndicate became reverse immediately. At UET, he said, he rarely used anticipatory orders and that too for academic matters. “I am very much conscious of these issues”. He said that he got certain self-explanatory anticipatory orders approved from Syndicate members through circulation.

Stating that there was no problem in holding Syndicate meetings within one-and-a-half month, he added, “Those universities do not face any problem, where there was less politics within the ranks of faculty members and the vice-chancellor. Usually, those VC’s hide their anticipatory orders, who fear opposition.”

Government College University VC Prof Dr Khaleequr Rahman said the anticipatory orders not approved by the Syndicate stood null and void at once. He said he did not issue anticipatory orders so he faced no problem. “We at GCU are working within the ambit of law,” he said.

University of Gujrat VC Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin said he had used his emergency powers in a few cases and all appointments were made through selection boards, which were approved by the Syndicate. He said the amended act had also empowered the VCs to get their anticipatory orders approved by Syndicate members through circulation within 21 days of the orders issued. “If Syndicate does not approve anticipatory orders, they become invalid. The responsibility of all such orders rests with the vice-chancellor,” Prof Nizamuddin said.

University of Sargodha VC Prof Dr Muhammad Akram Chaudhry said that he had organised Syndicate meeting with 45 days. “If any VC violates the law, he lands himself in trouble,” he said.

Prof Chaudhry suggested that the Punjab government should evolve a stringent mechanism for vice-chancellors on individual basis, who use powers beyond their authority. “I had organised Syndicate meeting within 45 days and got all anticipatory orders approved,” he said.

The University of Sargodha VC said there was too much politics in Punjab University and the VC did not rise above the groupings in teachers. “A VC needs to deal with all faculty members and employees at par,” he said.

Stating that PU VC Prof Kamran did not show large-heartedness, Prof Chaudhry said he had retired from PU service some two years ago but the PU VC did not finalise his pension case. He said he had retired after reaching the ceiling of BPS-22. “If my previous term as VC at Sargodha university will be considered as deputation, my pension will be calculated to the tune of Rs71,000 per month otherwise I will be getting only Rs35,000 per month,” he said.

Lahore College for Women University VC Prof Dr Sabiha Mansoor said the university was planning to hold its Syndicate meeting on March 22. She said as many as four Syndicate members’ tenure had expired and the varsity had proposed 12 names for the appointment of Syndicate members but the government did not give any response so far. “We are hoping that the Syndicate quorum would complete with existing members,” she said.

Prof Mansoor said she had issued only four anticipatory orders with regard to the appointment of four directors – ORIC, Financial Administration, Faculty Development and University’s Jhang Campus director. Two of these directors, she said, were being funded by the Higher Education Commission. She said these orders were issued some six months ago and were about to expire.

She said the university would be holding selection boards from Monday onwards for the formal recruitment of faculty members.

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences VC Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said he did not issue any anticipatory order, including for academic matters, since the amended universities acts came into force. “All university’s matters are being taken care of at appropriate forums and got approved by the Syndicate,” he said.

PU Registrar Prof Dr Khan Rass Masood said: “The March 2 Syndicate meeting had mutually decided to devise some way to take up the remaining cases and place them in the next meeting of the Syndicate.” – mansoormalik173@hotmail.com