KARACHI, July 18: A sub-committee of the University of Karachi syndicate has expressed dissatisfaction over the working of a committee supposed to scrutinize the job-applications prior to their placement before the selection boards of the university, said the sources in the campus.

The subcommittee, which was assigned the task to probe into the authenticity of documents presented and claims made by some varsity teachers regarding their appointments, also suggested certain measures to improve the working of the “eligibility committee”, which comprises the registrar of the university, the dean of the faculty concerned and the chairman of the department where appointments are to be made.

According to the sources, the report of the subcommittee will come for consideration and approval of the varsity syndicate, which is scheduled to meet on July 20. The syndicate formed a committee to look into the cases of at least four varsity teachers whose names were recommended by respective selection boards for appointments.

The syndicate’s committee comprised Saiyid Yaqoob Zaidi, Shamim Ahmed Junejo and Dr Tayyaba Mamun. “The committee did not feel satisfied with the procedure and the criteria of eligibility set for the said purpose,” said the report of the committee.

According to the report, when asked to provide rules and regulations/synopsis/parameters/minutes of the eligibility to the syndicates’ committee, the deputy registrar (establishment) failed to respond properly and informed that the eligibility committee simply put its signature on the application form mentioning “eligible” or “not eligible”.

The subcommittee unanimously resolved that the rules and regulations of eligibility must be framed, the synopses of eligibility must be prepared and circulated among the applicants after completion of scrutiny.

“If the committee rejects any application, the reason should be duly communicated in writing to the applicant. After giving the right of hearing to the applicants, the synopsis may be finalized”, said the committee’s resolution.

It was further said that the list of journals of national and international repute in regard to each discipline or department must be prepared and published in the form of a gazette and it should also be revised from time to time. Applicants submitting newspaper articles/souvenir and articles published in non- professional periodicals should not be entertained, the committee recommended.

Observing that usually the applicants submit a certificate from editors of some local journals to the effect that the research paper had been accepted for publication, the committee underlined that such certificates were generally attached to every application from the post of lecturer to professor. “This practice should be abolished”, added the committee.

The committee expressed the view that every teacher, irrespective of grade, must have the capacity to express oneself in English. The committee recommended that if a teacher did not qualify the condition, he or she might be relieved of teaching assignments.

After re-scrutinizing the case of the teachers’ appointment, the committee found that two of the teachers already recommended for appointment were not eligible to get appointments as associate professors, the sources said, adding that if the proposals of the subcommittee were approved by the syndicate, there would be chances of reopening of cases of many of the university teachers appointed in the past.