ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notice to the Secretary Establishment Division and sought reply by November 4 on the delay in appointment of Chairperson Higher Education Commission (HEC).
A single member bench of the IHC comprising Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued notice on a petition filed by Khawaja Aurang Zeb through his lawyer Barrister Afzal Hussain, seeking direction from the court to the federal government to complete the process of the appointment of the Chairperson Higher Education Commission within 10 days.
During the course of hearing, Deputy Attorney General apprised the bench that Cabinet secretary informed him that cabinet division has no role in appointment of Chairperson HEC's and the matter relates to the establishment division.
Barrister Afzal Hussain counsel for the petitioner apprised the bench that the contract of the Chairperson HEC had ended on August 25, 2013, and the office of the Chairperson HEC was lying vacant since August 2013.
The lawyer argued that the office of the Chairperson was a significant statutory office under HEC Ordinance 2002.
The Chairperson of the HEC has the status of a Federal Minister of State and as Head of the HEC, the Chairperson oversees all the activities and sets the policy direction of the HEC, lawyer added.
In his role as Federal Minister, the Chairperson plays a critical role in coordinating with the Government to ensure that Higher Education plays a central role in the development strategies of the country, he maintained.
He argued that the appointment of Chairperson should be made as soon as possible because he/she has to regulate the education commission as well as it gives line of action to the universities in the country with regard to the betterment in education system.
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