PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday granted 10 days time to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to comply with court orders for appointment of vice-chancellors in the province’s universities.
A two-member bench comprising Justice SM Atiq Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the contempt petition filed against the non-appointment of VCs. Aamir Javed appeared on behalf of the petitioner while Additional Advocate General (AAG) appeared on behalf of the provincial government.
During the hearing, Justice SM Atiq Shah expressed serious concern over the non-appointment of VCs despite court orders. He remarked that if the provincial government could not appoint VCs, it should start housing societies in these universities.
He observed that currently 19 universities are running without VCs, which he termed as unfortunate. Justice Sahibzada Asadullah remarked that the court had directed the provincial government on August 22 to appoint VCs, but it took 3 months. Passed.
The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that despite clear orders, the provincial government has failed to appoint vice-chancellors in 19 universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He pleaded that the court had directed on August 22 that the appointment should be made but the universities remained without VCs.
The lawyer argued that the recommendations of the committee should be submitted to the Chief Minister for approval, after which the VCs should be formally appointed. The Additional Advocate General told the court that the summary had been sent, but the provincial government had challenged the decision of the Peshawar High Court in the Supreme Court.
Justice Sahibzada Asadullah questioned the intentions of the provincial government saying that it had decided not to make the appointments and instead approached the Supreme Court. However, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the court clearly ordered compliance. is given
The AAG explained that the delay was due to the non-availability of the provincial minister for higher education and the chief minister.
When the hearing resumed, AG Shah Faisal Usman Khel and Secretary Higher Education appeared in the court. The AG told the court that the government had not restarted the recruitment process but had decided to issue fresh advertisements, a decision the court had earlier quashed.
He argued that the academic search committee had already recommended three candidates for each university. On this, the counsel for the petitioner reiterated that the recommendations of the committee should be accepted and sent to the Chancellor.
The AG clarified that before the elections, the caretaker chief minister had signed the summary but had not sent it to the chancellor. He assured the court that he is complying with its orders and has also filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Justice Shah directed the AG to inform the Chief Minister to ensure compliance of the court orders and then give 10 days time to the provincial government to implement the directions and ensure compliance.