Appointments of vice chancellors: LHC put off hearing of several petitions

The Lahore High Court here Friday put off hearing of several petitions against appointment of the universities vice chancellors and composition of 'search committee' after the petitioners' counsel concluded their arguments. Now an additional Advocate General Muhammad Hanif Khatana will advance his arguments on behalf of Punjab government on Monday. The petitions were filed by Dr Hassan Amir Shah, Dr Bushra Khan and others.
In their petitions the professors had submitted that they applied for the post of vice chancellors being eligible. However, the search committee later changed the criteria and preferences and was inviting only foreign qualified candidates. And the candidates having PhD degrees from Pakistani universities were not called for interviews.
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 the members of search committee had a PhD or teaching experience.