Favouritism, nepotism rein supreme at SMIU: retired officials rehired in violation of SC instructions

Favouritism and nepotism seem to be the only rules at Sindh Madressat-ul-Islam University (SMIU), where retired government officials have been rehired at crucial posts, flouting the clears instructions of Supreme Court of Pakistan. Sources inside SMIU said that hiring of retired employees continued in various departments of SMIU, as favouritism deprived many employees of timely promotions and regularisations.
Sources claimed that Ghulam Ali Surhio had been appointed Director Finance at SMIU in BPS-20, who was a retired government officer. Similarly, Shah Muhammad Memon retired as Accounts Officer in BPS-17 last year and rehired as Deputy Director Finance at SMIU.
Zahid Islam retired from SMI College in grade-17 and now has been appointed as Assistant Professor in BPS-19. Sources said that Ramesh P Jethamalani, School In-charge, was also rehired by SMIU in BPS-17, who retired in 2011. Likewise, school co-ordinator - Rajab Ali Mallah, who retired in February 2013, has now been reappointed in grade-17.
The apex court had ruled against rehiring of retired officials on contract, saying that this was blocking due promotions of eligible officials in various government departments. The Supreme Court (SC) had observed that re-employment of retired officers on senior posts in the federal and provincial departments was a violation of law, which is tantamount to blocking due promotions of other officers.
Sources said that lecturers of SMIU had also approached Supreme Court of Pakistan, requesting the apex court to intervene and take action against illegal appointments and postings in the university.
A letter written by SMIU lecturers and other employees to Chief Justice of Pakistan states. "The Vice Chancellor has appointed retired employees not only in teaching faculty but also administration and finance. Director Finance (B-20/21) and Deputy Finance (B-18/19) are amongst the key posts which have been filled by appointing retired government employees."
Sources said that Vice Chancellor SMIU Mohammad Ali Shaikh has discontinued the services of contract employees, working at SMIU for last seven years, and has preferred to hired retired employees. They said that the vice chancellor had not yet implementing Sindh High Court's verdict dated 30-10-2011 ordering regularisation of the contract employees of the university.
Sources said Gulzar Ahmed Mughal was holding the post of Officiating Registrar at SMIU in violation of SMIU Act 2012 as no such post exists in chapter-III (Officers of the University) of the University's Act. "The VC is running the affairs of SMIU and its constituent college through favouritism and nepotism, ignoring the spirits of merits," said a staff member at the varsity. While on the other hand, the faculty members have been running from pillar to post for their regularisation and no heed was being paid by the concerned authority despite the enactment of 'Sindh Regularisation of Adhoc and Contract Employees Act 2013.