Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Saturday ordered the Punjab advocate general to furnish the record pertaining to number of private universities in the province and their affiliated colleges, their fee structures and other operational details, a private TV channel reported.
A three-judge bench headed by the chief justice heard a case regarding degrees not being awarded to students by a University of South Asia’s affiliate college.
During the hearing, a Higher Education Commission (HEC) representative informed the court that the University of South Asia had made affiliations with colleges without seeking permission. “An institute should not only be issuing degrees but also have teachers to educate,” he said. To this, the chief justice remarked, “They are defrauding people and have ruined the education system.” “Since when are these universities operating and how much fees do they charge?” he further asked. The chief justice directed that criminal cases should be registered for opening campuses against the law. “I will see who comes for their bail,” he remarked.
Published in Daily Times, September 30th 2018.
