LAHORE, May 23: The Punjab law department on Wednesday declared admissions to public-sector universities through entrance tests by the National Testing Service (NTS) without any legal effect, ruling that this could be done only after making requisite amendments to the universities’ admission regulations.

According to the comment obtained by Dawn, the admission to various courses in the public-sector universities was to be regulated under the admission regulations of each university framed in accordance with the provisions of their respective laws. Generally, there are similar provisions for making admission regulations in the laws of the public-sector universities in the province.

The provisions of the university law provide that admission regulations may be prepared and proposed by the academic council of a university and the same should be approved by its syndicate. Each university is entitled to adopt its own admission policy through admission regulations.

Making the admissions contingent or conditional with the appearance in NTS tests without incorporating corresponding amendments to the admission regulations of the universities “will not be in accordance with laws governing affairs of these universities.”

Furthermore, the law department declares, a university is a body corporate under its act or ordinance and recognised as an autonomous body under the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 1974. Compulsory pre-requisite of NTS cannot be imposed on the universities unless they change their own regulations in accordance with the provisions of their respective laws.

It says there is no proof on record that any public-sector university has modified its admission regulations to make the NTS tests compulsory for admissions.

“Once an authority in a university takes any measures or passes any order, the governor in his capacity as chancellor may revise the order on the grounds of illegality in exercise of his revisions jurisdiction. However, in the performance of his functions as chancellor, the governor is bound to act in the same manner as the governor of province acts and is bound under Article 105 of the Constitution,” it adds.