PESHAWAR, Aug 5: The syndicate of the University of Peshawar has urged the vice-chancellor to reschedule the university senate’s meeting because placing unapproved items on its agenda for approval violates rules.

“This has happened for the first time in the university’s history that the syndicate meeting has been extended to four sittings,” said an official. There had been four sittings of the meeting, which began on July 11, but without any outcome, he added.

Sources said that due to the heavy agenda of the meeting, several issues could not be debated, but the vice-chancellor convened the senate meeting on Aug 13 in violation of the rules. The senate meeting, according to rules, was convened after the syndicate approved items and sent it to the senate for final approval, they added.

There were 54 main items on the syndicate agenda and each of them had 20 or more sub-items. Only the budget item had 29 sub-items, which was difficult to be discussed and approved in one session.

“The University of Peshawar has failed to hold meetings of the syndicate every three months as required under the rules. The first meeting of the syndicate under the present administration took place on Dec 27 and the second was held in July, instead of March,” said a letter written to the vice-chancellor last week by four elected members of the syndicate.

The letter brought the vice-chancellor’s attention towards the senate meeting scheduled to be held on Aug 13. It pointed out that four important items likely to be recommended for the senate’s approval had not been approved by the syndicate. So, the senate meeting will be illegal.

It said the failure of the university administration to hold the syndicate meeting every three months had resulted in a heavy agenda, which could not be discussed and approved in one setting.

It said three sessions of the syndicate meeting had been held so far and discussion on the agenda had remained incomplete. The venue of the fourth session had been notified. “The minutes of the meeting are yet to be circulated and approved,” it said.

The letter, singed by four of the syndicate’s six elected members, Prof Shafiqur Rehman, Prof Syed Zahir Shah, Prof Amir Nawaz Khan and Sher Wahab, showed surprise that how could a recommendation of the syndicate be placed before the senate for approval without being circulated among its members and approved by them.

“It is mandatory under sections 13 and 14 of the Rule of Business of the syndicate that its recommendations be placed for approval of the senate after approval and authentication by the syndicate,” said the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn from the vice-chancellor’s office.

The letter said the 397th meeting of the syndicate was held to approve the university budget for 2007-08. During discussion, the members suggested many modifications and amendments to the budget, but it was not clear whether the same had been incorporated in the budget, the letter said.

Likewise, other draft statutes purportedly approved by the syndicate in its current session needed to be in written form and circulated among the members and subsequently approved before their placement for the senate’s approval.

The letter suggested that NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai, the chancellor of the university, should be informed about this legal hitch and the senate meeting should be rescheduled after seeking his permission.