KARACHI, Dec 23: The University of Karachi has inducted a grade-20 officer of the Sindh government as its new registrar. The new incumbent, a replacement of the senior teacher belonging to the KU’s International Relations Department, Prof Syed Sikandar Mehdi, took over the charge on Friday.

However, his appointment is being seen in the educational circle as “unconventional and an aversion of the rules requiring appointment of a full fledged registrar through selection board.”

A KU notification issued by a deputy registrar on Friday referred to the Sindh government letter dated December 15, and said that Prof Mohammad Rais Alvi, who was reaching the age of superannuation in the next five months, had joined his duty as Registrar of the KU with effect from December 23. However, there was no account of other details or information in the notification about his tenure.

The university, which has been unable to get a registrar through selection board, relied mostly on its senior teachers chosen by its vice-chancellor from time to time for the past 20 years or more. After a requisition, the university had received a registrar from outside in the shape of an in-service army man in ’90s, which was disliked by KU staff and finally the official was removed from the post.

According to sources on the campus, Mr Alvi, a former EDO, would have to enter into a fresh agreement with the KU for a contractual job after he retires in May, 2006. Under the relevant rules, it is the prerogative of the vice-chancellor to give ad-hoc appointment to the persons on various posts for a period of six months.

However, teachers saw the latest induction as no solution to the long-felt problem. Instead of making ad-hoc appointments, the university should work dedicatedly for regular appointments in a transparent manner, adds a leader of KU teachers, urging that the KU administration should ensure immediate holding of various selection boards’ meetings for filling administrative posts.

According to sources in the academic circles, a federal minister from Karachi had played a key role in getting Mr Alvi appointed as registrar. “The world is full of talented people, but it is unfortunate that the university is failing to find some deserving and energetic persons,” remarked an official of the university.

However, when contacted, Vice-Chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim said that it was good that the university had now got a full-fledged registrar. “We may hire services of Mr Alvi further after meeting the formalities after May,” he added.

In reply to a question, he said that Mr Alvi was not a choice of the Sindh governor, the chancellor of the university, adding that on his requisition, the governor had facilitated the release of the official from education department.

A source in Sindh education department said no list of probable candidates was prepared at the department, but under the requirements of the high-ups, Prof Alvi had been relived for the slot in the university.

In the meantime, Principal of the Adamjee Science College, Prof Rafiq Ahmed Siddiqui, has been given the additional charge of EDO (Higher Education), City District Government Karachi, and has assumed the charge on Friday.