Islamabad:March 26:Tacitly backing out of its previous stance Higher Education Commission (HEC) is now likely to abandon planned recruitments and extensions on top management positions as its self-made Recruitment Rules 2009 have yet again drawn criticism even from its own ranks, the sources told this scribe here on Sunday.
The official said the management of HEC advertised some regular positions in January this year for direct recruitments in grade 20 and above by insertion of a clause ‘Equivalence Experience’ in existing HEC Recruitment Rules 2009 but some of its officials showed serious reservations and termed it illegal and unauthorised act.

The sources said eligibility criteria of these positions were amended by the HEC chairman who was not competent in this case and the proposed experience against each position was advertised without getting prior approval of the Controlling Authority i.e. the Prime Minister as per provision of Clause-21 of HEC Ordinance 2002.

A senior official who requested anonymity said since the HEC Recruitment Rules 2009 were never ever approved by the controlling authority, therefore, UGC rules are intact at present and accordingly, all high positions are to be filled in through promotion instead of direct appointments.

He said the first draft of current HEC recruitment rules 2009 was sent to the Establishment Division in 2006 for vetting that sent them back with serious reservations but the HEC management notified the rules in the Gazette of Pakistan even without informing the prime minister who is its controlling authority.

Another high official told this correspondent that under Section 22 (C) of the Ordinance 2002, the University Grants Commission (UGC-erstwhile), E&D, Rules —made under its repeated Act, 1974 — are continued to be applied in HEC. Further, it has also been recorded in the minutes of UGC, that where UGC rules are silent, the rules of the federal government will be applicable in such case.

Talking to this scribe HEC Chairman Dr. Javed Leghari hesitantly said that he at the moment cannot provide details about recruitment plan on top management positions but added that they could make recruitments rules at their own without obtaining approval from the prime minister as status of Commission permits HEC to adopt any policy discussed and approved by its management.

To a question, he said all appointments and extensions in the past were made legally in line with the existing rules and procedures and nothing illegal would also be done in future as well.The news.