VCs' appointment case: LHC judge refuses to conduct hearing

Justice Ejazul Hassan of Lahore High Court here Friday refused to hear several petitions challenging process for appointment of six public sector universities' vice chancellors and composition of "search committee", and referred the same to chief justice for constitution of a larger bench for disposal of the same.
Justice Ejazul Hassan observed that he was a member of university of engineering and technology (UET) syndicate, therefore, it will not be appropriate for him to proceed with the case. Counsel for a petitioner Anwar Kamal, further pointed out that many judges were members of syndicates of different universities, therefore, he said the matter should be fixed before a larger bench. At this the judge referred the matter to CJ with a request to form a larger bench for disposal of the petitions.
Dr Hassan Amir Shah and others had filed the petitions. The petitioners had said they applied for the post of vice chancellors being eligible as per the criteria laid down in an advertisement. They said a candidate for the said post was required to have Ph.D degree in any subject from a reputed university. However the search committee later changed the criteria and preferences and was inviting only foreign qualified candidates. They said call letters were only issued to the candidates holding Ph.D. degree from a list of 500 top foreign universities of the world, whereas candidates holding Ph.D. degrees from Pakistani universities were not called for interview.
They said 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 the members of search committee had a Ph.D or teaching experience. They said the constitution and composition of the committee and continuation through selective interviews, was lacking legal basis and a credible mechanism and was liable to be set-aside.