KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the district and sessions judge of Larkana to make every effort to have its notice served upon the vice chancellor of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), whose appointment as VC has been challenged.

A division bench of Justices Mohammad Ali Mazhar and Shahnawaz Tariq had issued the notice on Thursday to VC Prof Ghulam Asghar Channa and further directed the district judge to ascertain the service of the notice under his signature as the respondent VC did not appear in the court despite being issued the notice. The bench would take up the case on May 29.

The petitioner Prof Jan Mohammad Memon, represented by Advocate Mansoorul Haque Solangi, who has challenged Mr Channa’s appointment, asked the court to declare as illegal Mr Channa’s appointment as VC of the medical university because he did not hold a PhD degree, a mandatory requirement laid down by the HEC for the post.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that his client was the only person in the province holding a Ph.D in urology and having teaching experience of over 24 years in several universities across the country.

He said that in response to an advertisement in the press, Prof Memon applied in time for the post of the VC on Nov 8, 2013 and he emerged as the only PhD holder among the shortlisted candidates.

Advocate Solangi said the petitioner was called for an interview and being the only PhD in the province was recommended by members of the selection committee for appointment as the VC. However, he said, the respondents with mala fide intentions placed another advertisement for the post with substantial changes to the prescribed qualification and experience to illegally accommodate Prof Channa.

The counsel said the petitioner again applied for the post and was called on Feb 10 for an interview. However, he said, Prof Channa was appointed without lawful authority as the candidate for the post of the VC was required to be a PhD with sufficient experience and writings published by him in the internationally acclaimed journals.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2014