GUJRAT: The Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) has scrapped the recommendations made by the search committee for the appointment of regular incumbents on important posts of registrar and controller (examinations) in University of Gujrat (UoG) and advised the vice-chancellor to advertise the statuary slots and complete the selection process in 60 days.

The UoG had advertised the post of registrar and controller (examinations) in September 2019 with an eligibility criterion of Pakistani nationals which was later changed in July 2020 in a revised advertisement with Punjab domiciled applicants can only apply.

Official sources said the revised advertisement never mentioned the fate of previous applicants who applied against these posts; however, one of the applicants - retired Col Mazhar Shah - who was working as associate professor in HED, had approached the VC that he didn’t apply against the second advertisement so his first application may be considered.

The VC then put the matter before the syndicate that had allowed his first application as intact and eligible for the said post after which the varsity syndicate constituted a search committee comprising Prof. Dr. Shabbar Atiq, VC UOG (convener), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah, VC QAU Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood, VC University of Narowal (UoN), Prof. Dr. Uzma Qureshi, VC Women University Multan, as members to find a suitable candidate for the tenured posts.

VC told to advertise posts of registrar, controller (exam) afresh

The search committee completed the shortlisting and interview process and sent a panel of three names each against each post of registrar and controller (examinations).

Sources said many of the local and senior candidates including Muhammad Bakhat Nawaz, deputy registrar and in-charge maintenance of UOG, Saima Anwar, assistant professor (English), Faisal Ijaz and Mr. Jamil Turk, additional controllers of examination, approached the VC office and conveyed their reservations for not being shortlisted.

One of the candidates for controller (examination) approached the HED over ‘mistakes’ and selection of junior officers and neglecting the senior and relevant experienced officer.

Adding they said the committee had reportedly recommended the name of Mr. Shah on the top of three names for the post of registrar and Atif Ali Jaffri for controller (examination) despite the fact that Mr. Shah did not have any experience at university level whereas Mr. Jaffri too had never worked in the controller office for a single day during his entire career. As a result the entire process was scrapped by the HED.

The varsity had so far been unable to select a suitable candidate for those positions through two search committees for the last three years.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021