LAHORE: The Higher Education Department (HED) has again directed the University Of Engineering and Technology vice chancellor to denotify the unlawful/irregular appointments of the registrar, deputy registrar and controller within the next seven days, rejecting its stance on the issue.

As a last ef fort, the UET administration through a letter No Univ/ PS/Reg/21 of Jan 21 along with a report of the committee, had explained its point of view to prove that the appointments were made under the law. However, the explanation couldn`t satisfy the department.

`The committee report submitted vide above referred letter hasbeen reviewed in the light of relevant rules and record on the subject. The request is not acceded on the following grounds,` says the HED letter bearing No.S.O (Audit)1-50/2016 of March 13.

`The private experience of some of the candidates was counted towards Basic Scale (BS-17)without any authority. The service equivalence formula is only applicable where it has been notified by the government and adopted by the institution concerned attention is drawn to FD-SR-111-8-7/78, dated Lahore, July 16, 1980, given in chapter 111, pay, General Condition of Service, the UET calendar. Nonequivalence of private sector experience to `BS-17 or equivalent or above` makes appointments/promotionsinvolvedin para PDP13142 void ab initio,` it reads.

The letter mentions it wasbrought out by resident auditor of the UET that the appointments were made over and above the authorised strength of the deputy registrar. It requests the varsity administration to implement the decision of special departmental accounts committee (SDAC) of Jan 25, 2016 and cancel/denotify the unlawful appointments/promotions of the registrar, deputy registrar and controller of examination involved in the above mentioned para within seven days.

`It is further requested to ef fect recovery of salaries and perquisites received irregularly and deposit with the university main account,` the letter says.

The department had earlier directed the UET management twice through two letters on Sept 6 and Dec 20, 2016 to immediately denotify the unlawfulappointments made against various key slots, besides recovering salaries and other allowances from those selected for these slots in sheer violation of merit.

The UET administration had filled the posts of registrar, deputy registrars and controller of examination in 2013 allegedly in violation of merit. The appointments appeared to be disputed in the light of an audit carried out in 2014. The administration continued to ignore the audit that termed the appointments liable to be cancelled with immediate effect.

According to concluding para of the audit report, the auditors rejected the varsity`s stance as unsatisfactory.

`The audit team is of the view that the appointments are unlawful, therefore, liable to be can-celled. Moreover, the salary and prerequisites received against the said posts shall also be recovered and deposited with the varsity`s account,` reads the audit para.

The audit report had pointed out the irregularity in November 2014.

The department replied that the syndicate was the competent authority to appoint varsity teachers and other ofhcers on the recommendation of the selection board for teaching and other posts in BPS-17 and above.

`The department`s reply is not acceptable because eligibility criteria was not fulfilled. The audit [team] is of the view that the appointments shall be cancelled and new appointments shall be made as per law or approval of chancellor be sought,` the audit report says.