KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday expressed surprise over the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) for not offering admission to the students of interior districts of Sindh.

While hearing a petition of a student, the two-judge SHC bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar directed officials of the DUHS to produce the admission policy on Jan 28 after the law officer of the university admitted that they were only offering admissions to the students holding domiciles of Karachi.

The law officer also submitted that it was the decision of the syndicate of the DUHS to enrol the students of provincial metropolis in the MBBS, BDS and pharmacy-D programmes.

Justice Mazhar was surprised over the admission policy of DUHS and asked the law officer whether the students of other districts of Sindh should approach medical institutes of other provinces for admission.

SHC asks why institution not offering admission to students from other districts of Sindh

The bench reminded the counsel for DHUS that in the past, he had submitted in another case pertaining to the admission of students belonging to other provinces that on priority, admissions would be offered to the students of Sindh.

The law officer contended that every division had its own university. However, he sought time to consult with the university officials and then come up with a detailed reply.

Petitioner Sharqa Jan Magsi through her lawyer submitted that the students of other parts of the province had not been allowed even to take part in the aptitude test for admissions and contended that it was against the Dow University of Health Sciences Act, 2004.

Mainpuri, gutka

The provincial authorities on Monday informed another SHC bench that in compliance with an earlier court order, the provincial assembly has passed legislation against the manufacturing and sale of gutka and mainpuri in the province.

In its report placed before the two-judge bench headed by Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro, the provincial government said that last month, the assembly had passed the Sindh Prohibition of Preparation, Manufacturing, Storage, Sale and Use of Gutka and Manpuri Bill, 2019 and it was sent to the governor for his assent.

Police officials also filed progress reports regarding the action taken against the manufacturing and sale of these injurious items, the number of cases lodged, arrest of suspects and recovery of gutka, mainpuri and mawa.

The bench adjourned the matter till Feb 10 and warned that the provincial police officer would be summoned if the court order was not implemented in letter and spirit.

In the past, the SHC had directed the provincial authorities for legislation on gutka and mainpuri with an observation that the existing laws with regard to the punishment for manufacturing and selling gutka and mainpuri should be enhanced as the culprits involved in such crimes were being booked under the British-era laws and set free merely after paying minor penalties.

On a petition of a lawyer seeking action against the manufacturing and sale of the harmful substances and contending that the police were doing nothing against them, the SHC had also ordered the provincial police officer to launch a province-wide crackdown against the menace of gutka, mainpuri and other injurious items.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020