THE Constitution of Pakistan 1973 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights term “education” and “equal and fair opportunity” as fundamental rights of all and sundry. However, both basic rights are at risk in the current education scenario in Punjab with special reference to universities. The absence of permanent vice-chancellors in public sector universities and administering universities under acting vice-chancellors who promote illegal malpractices such as nepotism, favouritism, corrupt practices, and political appointments at wishes and whips of influential people to legitimize their extension is a matter of grave concern.
Posts of permanent Vice-Chancellors have been vacant for some months/years in around 25 semi-government universities of Punjab. The University of the Punjab is also one of these universities as the post of permanent vice-chancellor has been vacant since 5 June 2022. The acting vice-chancellor of this University endeavoured to recruit 229 teachers from BPS 18 to 21 with reference to advertisement No. 1/23 dated 29th July 2023, published in the Newspaper- Daily Dawn- during the recent interim government that was cancelled by the Election Commission of Pakistan vide letter No. F.16(1)/23 Elec-1, dated 18th September 2023 based on the law “No recruitment during interim government”.
Now, credible sources, along with various media reports, confirm rumours regarding another attempt by the acting vice-chancellor of the University to recruit over 229 official staff members (grades 18 to 21). This effort is aimed at seeking an extension of his tenure or conversion from acting VC to permanent VC by favouring specific influential individuals, political elites, and engaging in corrupt practices. This exploitation of loopholes follows the removal of the legal formality of the ‘ban on recruitment during the interim government’ after the electoral process and the formation of a new government.
If the acting VC of the University does not stop officially expecting nepotism and favouritism-based recruitment until the appointment of a permanent Vice-Chancellor, then it will be not only against meritocracy as well as public interests but will also tarnish the repute of the oldest educational institution. Youngsters and qualified people are becoming desperate because of the prevailing trend of hiring politically and corruptly practices supported people which is a blatant violation of human rights as “equal & fair opportunity” is a fundamental right of every citizen under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights & Constitution of Pakistan 1973, irrespective of political affiliation, financial & social status or undue favour by influential people.
In the light of the above facts, the Higher Education Commission and the Government of Punjab should take stern measures to stop expecting recruitment tender of acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Punjab until the appointment of permanent VC. All these jobs must be filled on the basis of merit. Permanent Vice-Chancellors must be appointed in all universities, especially in the University of Punjab on an urgent basis to restore repute of this leading educational institution. Last but not the least, the government of the Punjab must amend the University of The Punjab Act 1973 about powers to be executed by Acting VC.
—The writer is a Lahore-based public litigation Advocate of High Court & researcher on human rights and criminal justice system.
