KARACHI, Oct 20: The Karachi University Teachers Association has congratulated its members for boycotting the Oct 19 meeting of the syndicate, which was held despite lack of quorum.

The claim of the KU administration that the quorum for the 18-member syndicate is nine and fewer than seven members attended the meeting indicates that decision of the meeting was illegal and violative of the University Act 1974, a press release of the KUTS said.

The university act was violated on Sept 30 when a meeting of the academic council was held without quorum as teachers boycotted the meeting, it added.

According to the teachers, the repeated violation of the university act showed that the law is trespassed by the appointees of the chancellor and it was corruption, nepotism and problem at the top that needed to be addressed rather than implementing the draconian model university ordinance - a law that could centralize even more powers in the VC’s hands.

The KUTS also criticized interface of the KU administration in the matters of teachers’ forum and has taken strong exception to the statement which asserted that senior professors had called for an end to strikes and rallies and added that such statements were issued to create division among the teachers.

Meanwhile, the KUTS has taken strong exception to the reported interface of the minister of science and technology in the matters of the University.

The minister is responsible for implementing the draconian model university ordinance, said another press release.

It was reported to the KUTS by some senior professors that they had received phone calls from Islamabad, inquiring about a rally being taken out against the model university ordinance and other reforms.

The KUTS criticized the move and vowed to continue resistance against such interference.—PPI