LAHORE: Punjab Governor and University of Kamalia Chancellor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has upheld the cancellation of 77 nonteaching appointments made during the tenure of an interim vice chancellor, ruling that the recruitment process suffered from procedural and financial irregularities.

In an order, available with Dawn, the governor dismissed the revisionpetition filed by the affected candidates against the university syndicate`s decision of July 4, 2023 to scrap the recruitment process initiated in December 2022. The order was issued on Oct 14.

The appointments, covering BPS-1 to 16, were made after the university advertised the posts on Dec 4, 2022, during the tenure of interim vice chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, who is currently the chairperson of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC). The university challenged the recruitment process on several grounds, including the absence of formal approval and budgetary provision for the posts and the failure to complete the required financial scrutiny.

According to the order, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had imposed a ban on recruit-ments on Jan 22, 2023. The university`s selection committee conducted interviews in April and issued appointment letters on April 13, the same day the university sought relaxation of the ban. The ECP conveyed its concurrence on May 8, 2023, accordingtothe record.

The syndicate, in its meeting on July 4, 2023, decided to cancel the process from the outset. It observed that the posts had not been formally created or budgeted and that the recruitment had not undergone the required scrutiny by the Finance and Planning Committee. It also noted that the candidates had not completed the joining formalities within the stipulated 15-day period. Their medical examinations were conducted on May 8 and 9, 2023, after the joining deadline had expired.

The affected candidates chal-lenged the syndicate`s decision before the Lahore High Court (LHC). Their petitions were disposed of on Nov 19, 2025, with directions to pursue the available statutory remedy before the chancellor.

During the proceedings before the governor, the candidates argued that they had passed the written tests and interviews, completed the required formalities and, in some cases, resigned from their previous jobs in reliance on the appointment letters.

They said the appointments were within the vice chancellor`s authority and that the posts were covered by approved budgets.

University Registrar Dr Muhammad Raees Ashraf opposed the petitions, arguing that the candidates could not claim the right to join duty merely on the basis of appointment letters when the required for-malities had not been completed within the prescribed period. He also submitted that the appointments would have created a salary liability exceeding Rs100m, while the university`s total revenue for the relevant year was around Rs70m.

After hearing both sides and examining the record, the governor dismissed the revision petition and upheld the syndicate`s decision. The candidates`requestsforrestoration of their appointments and permission to join duty were not accepted.

Speaking to Dawn on Friday, University of Kamalia Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Yasir Nawab confirmed the development, saying that the governor had heard the candidates and the university administration before deciding the matter. He said the university would implement the order.