The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Governor Punjab for August 15 in several identical petitions challenging appointment process for vice chancellors in six public sector universities in the province and composition of "search committee". The petitions were filed by Dr Hassan Amir Shah of government college Lahore, Dr Bushra Khan of Lahore College for Women University and others.
The petitioners' counsel argued that the petitioners questioned the legal position of the search committee. The petitioners applied for the post of vice chancellors being eligible as per criteria laid down in advertisement. They said a candidate for the said post was required to have PhD degree in any subject from a reputed university.
However, they said that the search committee changed criteria and preferences and invited only foreign qualified candidates. They said call letters were issued to candidates holding PhD degree from top 500 foreign universities of the world. They also assailed the composition/constitution of "Search Committee" saying there were no rules, regulations and policy guidelines for selection and appointment of its members. They said none of its members had a PhD or teaching experience. The petitioners said the entire process of selection of vice chancellors, commencing, composition of search committee and interview process was lacking legal basis and liable to be set-aside.