Daily Times

In blatant violation of rules, Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Amjad has designated Professor Dr Nayyar Qayyum as head of department of Orthopedic Surgery without fulfilling the required criteria.

Sources privy to the development revealed, the vice chancellor has removed Professor Dr Riaz Sheikh from his post of head of the department of Orthopedic Surgery and Dean of Orthopedic, Neurosurgery & Trauma at the Rawalpindi Medical University and designated a junior faculty member, Dr Nayyar Qayyum as head of the concerned department.

Sources further revealed, the quantification score required for promotion to BPS 20 is minimum 70 points, whereas, the newly designated Dr Qayyum has scored only 50.79 points.

Furthermore, the Provincial Selection Board in its notification stated; “This one time dispensation would not be quoted as president.”

However, the board is not authorised to give dispensation for BPS 20, if the quantification score is less than the required criteria, sources informed.

Similarly the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of Dr Qayyum for the year 2012 and 2013 were not according to the law. In the past, former principal Professor Dr Muhammad Umar has also sent a report to the Punjab chief secretary about the ACRs of Dr Qayyum.

According to sources, the VC of the university is not authorised to issue notification regarding designation of head of department without taking approval from the academia council and syndicate.

Former dean of the Orthopedic Surgery Department Professor Dr Riaz Sheikh said that the promotion and posting of Dr Qayyum is against the rules and regulations.

“I will challenge the decision at every possible forum,” he said.

The newly designated head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department Dr Qayyum said, the former head of the department was designated through an illegal notification by the Section Officer.

“My promotion was due in 2013 but one of our colleagues filed a case in the court to halt my promotion. Now after about one year notification of my promotion from back date is issued. My designation as head of the department is according to merit,” he claimed.

Rawalpindi Medical University VC Professor Dr Amjad said, “I have issued the notification of Dr Qayyum on the recommendations of former chief secretary Zahid Saeed, who have stated in his letter that Dr Qayyum is the senior most among the professors and he should be designated as head of the department.”

Published in Daily Times, July 23^rd 2018.