KARACHI, Jan 1: Under some amendments in the charter granted in the case of government medical universities in the province, vice-chancellors can now be appointed from outside the faculty as well, said sources in the provincial health department. The Sindh government on Tuesday notified the ordinance for amending the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Ordinances, 2001 and the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Act, 2004.

Talking about the new substitutes, a source in the health department referred to the previous provisions in regard to appointment of vice-chancellors, and said that now any eminent personality with medical background could be appointed as new VC at the two universities in question, irrespective of the fact that he/she belonged to active or retired cadre of bureaucrats, senior health officials or the armed forces.

The Section 14(1) of LUMHS ordinance read: “The vice-chancellor shall be appointed by the chancellor from amongst the professors serving in the health department of the government of Sindh for a period of four years on such terms and conditions as the chancellor may determine.”

In the case of DUHS, the related section read: “The vice-chancellor shall be appointed by the chancellor for a period of four years from amongst the professors of the university on such terms and conditions as the chancellor may determine and shall hold office during the pleasure of the chancellor.”

However, the sections in question pertaining to both the varsities, after amendments made by the Sindh governor, who is also chancellor of the province’s public varsities, read: “Any person having medical background shall be appointed as vice-chancellor by the chancellor for a period of four years on such terms and conditions as the chancellor may determine and shall hold office during the pleasure of the chancellor.”

According to the amended ordinance promulgated by the Sindh governor, only the provincial health minister shall be the pro-chancellor of both universities.

For the DHUS, a new sub-section was added, stating: “Should the chancellor be incapacitated acting as such due to absence or any other cause, the pro-chancellor shall exercise all powers and perform all duties of the chancellor.”

Under amendments, now in the case of the LUMHS, “the registrar shall be a whole time officer of the university and shall be appointed by the syndicate on such terms and conditions as it may determine.” Earlier, the chancellor was authorized to appoint the registrar.

The resident auditor of LUMHS shall now also be appointed by the varsity syndicate.

A new clause has been included in the DUHS act, under which one alim and one woman of eminence, not serving in any educational institution, would be nominated by the chancellor to the varsity syndicate.