PESHAWAR: Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan has been utilising unapproved budgets for the last seven years as its senate, the supreme body of the university having power to pass the budget, has not met since 2007, according to sources.

They said that successive administrations of Gomal University turned a blind eye to the importance of the senate. “The officials responsible have not bothered to hold meetings of the senate,” they added.

Sources said that during the last 20 years, the senate of Gomal University met only for two times, first in 1994 while the second meeting was held in 2007.

According to The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act 2012, “the senate (of a university) shall meet twice in a year”.

Under Section 20 of the Act, the powers of the senate include general supervision of the university; holding the vice-chancellor and authorities accountable for all the functions of the university; having all powers of the university not expressly vested in an authority or officer by this Act and all other powers not expressly mentioned in this Act that are necessary for the performance of its functions.

Sources say senate of the university has not held a single meeting since 2007

It further provides to approve the proposed annual plan of work; the annual and revised budgets; the annual report and the annual statement of account; institute schemes; directions and guidelines for the terms and conditions of appointment of all officers, teachers and other employees of the university; oversee the quality and relevance of the university’s academic programmes and review the academic affairs of the university in general; and approve strategic plans.

The senate has the power to approve financial resource development plans of the university, consider the drafts of statutes proposed by the syndicate and deal with them in the manner as provided for in Section 28 of the Act.

An official, working on an administrative post at Gomal University, told Dawn that no preference had been given to the senate during the last two decades owing to apathy of the vice-chancellors.

Though senate was a top decision making body of the university, the vice-chancellors might not consider its meeting necessary, he said.

He added that the university was being run on ad-hocism owing to not holding the meetings of senate.

Dr Najeebullah, the acting registrar of the university, when contacted, said that senate meeting would be convened soon. He said that administration was waiting for the appointment of a permanent vice-chancellor which was in the final stage.

“The search committee has already recommended three names to the chief minister to appoint one of them as vice-chancellor of Gomal University,” sources said.

They added that the post of vice-chancellor of Gomal University was lying vacant for the last six months. Prof Inayatullah Babar was working as acting vice-chancellor of the university, they said, adding it would be inappropriate to take vital decision in the absence of a permanent vice-chancellor.

“We are preparing agenda for the senate meeting,” the registrar said. He added that the university administration also discussed the matter with the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who was chancellor of the public sector universities in the province.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani would chair the meeting of the senate, Dr Najeebullah said.

Published in Dawn, Aug 4th, 2014