HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Sindh High Court has restrained the Sindh University administration from announcing the final results of the Nov 25 election for SU syndicate.

The bench comprising Justice Mohammad Saleem Jessar and Justice Adnanul Karim Memon was seized with a petition jointly filed by Ghulam Nabi Kaka, Nadeem Butt, Javed Ahmed Bhatti and Faisal Zaman Mughal.

The court issued notices to the universities and boards (U&B) secretary, SU vice chancellor and registrar/election officer.

The petitioners have raised objection on the preliminary voters’ list issued on Nov 4.

They submitted in court that the registrar had issued a circular dated Aug 17, 2018 regarding voters’ list of officers from grade-17 and above. Thereafter, another circular dated July 3, 2019 amending clause-6 of the Aug 17, 2018 circular was issued. According to the amended clause-6, all non-teaching officers working/drawing salary in BS-17 and above and having a minimum of two-year regular service are eligible to contest the election. All non-teaching officers working/drawing salary in BS-17 and above and serving on a regular basis may cast their vote for officers’ constituency.

The petitioners stated that nominations were invited from all officers in line with the July 3 notification whereas the Aug 17, 2018 circular was treated as cancelled.

They asked the court to suspend the election schedule.

They submitted that again on Nov 4, a circular was issued to modify the July 3 notification and invite nominations from officers. They said that the preliminary voters’ list dated Nov 4 was highly objectionable.

They claimed that the preliminary and final voters’ lists were based on conjectures and included the names of those who neither had the right to vote nor were they eligible to contest the election.

The petitioners contended that the notifications were issued without approval of the selection board and a competent authority and, as such, be declared unlawful.

The court observed that it would be inappropriate to stay the election process at this stage. However, it ordered the SU administration not to declare the election results.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2019