Appointment of university registrar restored
• BHC directs payment of dues, privileges effective from April 22
• Declares interference by governor, Senate beyond legal authority
QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court has accepted the petition of Dr Raheela Manzoor and directed the issuance of a formal notification for her appointment as Registrar of Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University (SBKWU) Quetta, along with the payment of all dues and privileges effective from April 22 — the date of the Syndicate’s approval.
The petitioner contended that after completing all legal formalities, interviews of shortlisted candidates were conducted during the 19th meeting of the Selection Board on April 17 this year.
The board unanimously recommended her name for the post of Registrar, and the University Syndicate subsequently approved the recommendation in its 24th meeting on April 22. Despite the completion of all legal requirements, the chancellor/governor’s office withheld the notification on April 24, citing procedural irregularities, which compelled her to approach the court.
The respondents argued that dissenting notes from some members of the Selection Board and Syndicate had raised doubts about the process. They said the chancellor had referred the matter to the Senate under Section 24(2) of the Balochistan Universities Act, 2022. The Senate, in its meeting held on Aug 21, decided not to approve the appointment and directed that the post be re-advertised.
In its detailed judgement, a BHC division bench comprising Justice Iqbal Ahmed Kasi and Justice Muhammad Najmuddin Mengal observed that the recruitment process had begun through a formal advertisement, with scrutiny conducted under the supervision of the Higher Education Commission, and that interviews were properly held by the Selection Board.
The judgement stated that once the Syndicate approved the Selection Board’s recommendation, the appointment became legally final, and any attempt by the chancellor/governor’s office to withhold the notification amounted to interference in the administrative autonomy of the university. It added that dissenting opinions of a few members could not invalidate a majority decision.
The bench noted that, according to Section 11(7) of the Balochistan Universities Act, the chancellor’s role is limited to ensuring compliance with laws and regulations and does not extend to exercising judicial or appellate authority over the Syndicate’s decisions unless bad faith or illegality is established.
The Senate’s decision to re-advertise the post could not nullify a legally completed appointment.
The court declared the withholding of the notification as arbitrary, unlawful and in violation of Articles 4 and 27 of the Constitution, which guarantee citizens protection of law, fair treatment and equality. It concluded that the interference by the chancellor’s office was beyond its legal authority.
The court directed the respondents to issue the formal notification of Dr Raheela Manzoor’s appointment as Registrar of SBKWU within 15 days of receiving the judgement and to pay all dues and benefits from April 22.
Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2025
