LAHORE: After seven years or so, the Punjab University’s senate will be meeting here on April 1 to get approved the varsity’s eight years’ budget estimates.

According to a PU notification, the budget estimates for the years 2007-08 to 2014-15 would be presented for approval in the 351st meeting of the Senate, to be presided over by the chancellor or his nominee, in the Al-Razi Hall, Undergraduate Block, PU (New Campus).

Approval would also be sought for the revised budget estimates for the years 2007-08 to 2013-14 and the actual budgets for the years 2007-08 to 2012-13.

The notification said the Syndicate had already recommended these budget estimates, revised and actual, at its meetings held on Sept 5, 2007, June 27, 2008, June 30, 2009, June 30, 2010, June 11, 2011, June 28, 2012, June 22, 2013 and June 26, 2014.

Approval of the annual report for the year 2012-13, appointment of one member of the senate on the finance and planning committee (to be appointed by the senate), besides appointment of two members of the senate on the Syndicate (to be elected by the senate) would be the other items on the agenda.

Confusion over legality of acting chancellor’s role

According to the University of the Punjab Act 1973, two bodies would play pivotal role to run the affairs of the varsity, having total 11 authorities.

The executive body or the 16-member Syndicate, among other things would also approve appointments of faculty members, besides looking after other administrative matters. At present, the Syndicate comprised 14 members.

The 80-member senate would also recommend approval (to the Syndicate) of annual statements of accounts and budget estimates, besides appointing two members to the Syndicate.

Senate members include the PU chancellor, members of Syndicate, deans, directors of institutes, principals of the constituent colleges, university professors and professor emeritus, chairmen of the teaching departments, five registered graduates to be elected by all such graduates amongst themselves, five persons in arts, sciences and the professionals nominated by chancellor, all the chairmen of the board of intermediates, principals of affiliated colleges, registrar, controller, treasure and librarian.

Interpreting Section 23 of the PU Act, a teacher at the varsity’s law college maintained it was silent about the powers of the acting chancellor to convene senate meeting.

“At present, the province has no full-time governor, hence the university too has no full-fledged chancellor. An acting official is appointed to run the day-to-day affairs and not to make policy decisions,” said the teacher who wished not to be named.

The teacher said the senate should have at least two meetings in a year to approve budget estimates and revised budget estimates.

“The urgency to get the finance sheets of eight years approved in a single meeting and that too in the absence of a full-fledged chancellor is something strange,” said the teacher.

PU Registrar Dr Liaquat Ali was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2015

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