QUETTA, Oct 9: A division bench of the Balochistan High Court has directed the advocate general of Balochistan to take up with the government matters pertaining to reopening of colleges and universities in the province and asked the secretary of education department to strictly follow rules while promoting employees.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani on Monday issued notices to the provincial chief secretary and home secretary to discuss the reopening of higher educational institutions on a priority basis.

The court issued the directives on a petition filed by a citizen, Saleem Akhtar, submitting that the standard of education was deteriorating in universities and colleges.

The court observed that the closure of educational institutions was brought to the notice of the court and the learned judges said precious time of students was being wasted. They directed the advocate general to take up the matter with the government.

Universities and colleges in the province were closed following riots in the aftermath of the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan.

The principal of the Government Degree College, Quetta, Professor Shoiabullah Khan, informed the court that promotions of teachers in colleges were decided in violation of prescribed rules and were not based on merit.

The court directed the provincial secretary of education to withdraw all promotion notifications that were against rules and violated the principle of merit. It directed that promotion cases should be decided strictly in accordance with the rules and on the basis of merit.

The court asked the secretary of education not to accept illegal orders of ministers or higher authorities related to promotions.