Greenwich University Act, 1997

The Greenwich University Act, 1997

ACT I OF 1998

An Act to provide for the establishment of Greenwich University at Karachi

[Gazette of Sindh, Extraordinary, Part IV, 3rd February, 1998]

No. PAS/Legis.B-22/97, dated 3-2-1998.--The Greenwich University Bill, 1997 having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh on 14th January, 1998 and assented to by the Governor of Sindh on 24th January, 1998 is hereby published as an Act of the Legislature of Sindh.

Preamble.--Whereas it is expedient to provide for the establishment of Greenwich University at Karachi and for matters ancillary thereto;

It is hereby enacted as follows;

1. Short title and commencement.--(1) This Act may be called the Greenwich University Act, 1997.

(2) It shall come into force at one.

2. Definitions.--In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,---

(i) “Academic Council” means the Academic Council of the University;

(ii) “Authority” means an Authority of the University specified in section 11;

(iii) “Board” means the Board of Governors of the University;

(iv) “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the University;

(v) “Dean” means the Head of a Faculty;

(vi) “Director” means the Head of an Institute;

(vii) “Faculty” means a Faculty of the University;

(viii) “Government” means the Government of Sindh;

(ix) “Institute” means an institute maintained and administered by the University;

(x) “Prescribed” means prescribed by Statutes, Regulations or Rules;

(xi) “Professor Emeritus” means a retired Professor working in the University in an honorary capacity;

(xii) “Society” means the Greenwich Education Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860;

(xiii) “Statutes, Regulations and Rules” means respectively the Statutes, Regulations and Rules made under this Act;

(xiv) “University” means the Greenwich University; and

(xv) “Vice-Chancellor” means the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

CHAPTER II

THE UNIVERSITY

3. Establishment and incorporation of the University.-- (1) There shall be established a University to be called the Greenwich University consisting of the Patron, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deans, the Chairman of the Teaching Departments and Members of the Board, the Members of the Academic Council and such other Officers as may be prescribed.

(2) The University shall be a body corporate by the name of Greenwich University having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, among others to acquire, hold and dispose of any property vesting in it and shall by the said name, sue and be sued.

4. University open to all.--The University shall be open to all persons of either sex of whatever religion, race, creed, colour or domicile who are academically qualified .for admission to the courses of study offered by tae University and no such person shall be denied the privilege on the ground only of sex, religion, creed, race, class, colour or domicile.

5. Powers and Functions of the University. ---The University shall be an autonomous body and shall have the powers,---

(i) to . provide for instructions in such branches of learning as. it may deem fit and to make provisions for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in such manner as it may determine;

(ii) to admit and examine students and to confer or award degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions on and to the persons have passed its examinations under prescribed conditions;

(iii) to affiliate itself or associate with other institutions and establish Faculties and the Teaching Departments to discharge its functions and responsibilities for the betterment of education;

(iv) to confer honorary degrees or other distinctions on approved persons in the manner prescribed;

(v) to prescribe courses of studies and undertake research as it may determine;

(vi) to provide and support other facilities for education, professional training and research;

(vii) to affiliate and disaffiliate educational institutions in and outside Pakistan and inspect such institutions or associate itself with other selected educational training and research institutions provide them with services and facilities for the effective discharge of their functions and responsibilities and determine teaching methodology, techniques and strategies in order to ensure the most effective educational training and research programmes;

(viii) to receive and manage property, grants, bequests, trusts, gifts, donations, endowments and other contributions made to the University and to invest them in such manner as it may deem fit;

(ix) to enter into agreements, contracts and arrangements with Government organizations, institutions, bodies and individuals for carrying out its functions and activities;

(x) to demand and receive such fees and other charges as it may determine;

(xi) to appoint members of the various bodies and committees as the Board may determine for instructional and c6-curricular activities and admit students of the University and its constituent units;

(xii) to appoint such officers including teachers and members of the staff and prescribe terms and conditions, powers and duties of such officers and staff;

(xiii) to do all such other acts and things as may be requisite to further its objectives.

CHAPTER III

OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

6. Officers of the University.--The following shall be the officers of the University,---

(i) The Patron;

(ii) the Chancellor;

(iii) the Vice-Chancellor;

(iv) the Deans;

(v) the Directors;

(vi) the Chairmen of Teaching Departments;

(vii) the Registrar; and

(viii) such other persons as may be prescribed to be. the officers of the University.

7 The Patron.--(1) The Governor shall be the patron of the University.

8. The Chancellor.--(1) The Chancellor shall be a person of eminence, known for his contributions in the field of knowledge or service; to society and appreciated for his high moral and intellectual calibre: Provided that Dr. Akmal Ahmed Khan of the Society shall be the first life-Chancellor of the University.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), the President of the society shall be the Chancellor of the University.

(3) The Chancellor shall, when present, preside at the convocations of the University.

(4) Every proposal to confer an honorary degree shall be subject to confirmation by the Chancellor.

(5) If the Chancellor is satisfied that the proceedings of any Authority or orders of any officer are not in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Statutes, the Regulations, or the Rules, he may, after calling upon such Authority or officer to show cause why such proceedings should not be annulled, by order in writing, annul such proceedings or orders.

(6) Should the Chancellor be incapacitated from acting as such due to absence or any other cause, the Vice-Chancellor shall act for him.

10. The Vice-Chancellor.--(1) The Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Chancellor, on such terms and conditions as the Chancellor may determine and shall hold office during the pressure of the Chancellor.

(2) At any time when the office of the Vice-Chancellor is vacant or the Vice-Chancellor is absent or is unable to perform the functions of his office due to illness or some other cause, the Chancellor shall make such arrangement for the performance of the duties of the Vice-Chancellor as he may deem fit.

(3) The Vice-Chancellor shall be the principal academic and administrative officer of the University, and shall be responsible for proper implementation of the provisions of this Act, directions of the Chancellor, decisions of the University and execution of the policies and programmes of the University.

(4) The Vice-Chancellor may, in an emergency which in his opinion requires immediate action, take such action as he may deem necessary and shall, thereafter as soon as possible, report his action to the officer, authority or, other body, which in the ordinary course would deal with the matter.

(5) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers the Vice-Chancellor shall also have the following powers,---

(a) to create and fill temporary posts for a period not exceeding six months;

(b) to sanction all expenditure provided for in the approved budget and to re-appropriate funds within the same major head of expenditure;

(c) to sanction/re-appropriation an amount not exceeding fifty thousand rupees for an unforeseen item not provided for in the budget and report it to the Board at the next meeting;

(d) to appoint paper setters and examiners for all examinations of the, University after receiving panels of names from the relevant authorities;

(e) to make such arrangements for the scrutiny of papers, marks and results as may be necessary;

(f) to direct teachers, officers and other employees of the University to take up such assignments in connection with teaching, research, examination and administration and such other activities in the University as he may consider necessary;

(g) to delegate, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be prescribed, any of his powers under this Act to an officer or other employee of the University;

(h) to appoint employees of such categories in respect of which powers have been delegated to him by the Board;

(i) to exercise and perform such other powers and functions as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER IV

AUTHORITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY

11. Authorities.--The following shall be the Authorities of the University:---

(i) The Board of Governors;

(ii) the Academic Council;

(iii) the Boards of Faculties;

(iv) the Board of Advanced Studies and Research;

(v) the Board of Studies;

(vi) the Selection Board;

(vii) the Finance and Planning Committee;

(viii) Affiliation Committee; and

(ix) such other Authorities as may be prescribed.

12. Board of Governors. ---(l) The general supervision and control of the affairs of the University and its power to lay down policies shall vest in the Board consisting of the following:---

(a) Vice-Chancellor;

(b) the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh or a Judge of the High Court to be nominated by him;

(c) the Secretary to the Government of Sindh, Education Department;

(d) two deans to be nominated by the Chancellor in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor;

(e) the Chairman, University Grants Commission, or whole time Member of the Commission to be nominated by him;

(f) the President of the Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Karachi;

(g) three persons of eminence to be nominated by the Chancellor on the recommendations of the Vice-Chancellor;

(h) three persons of outstanding merit, to be nominated by the Society;

(2) A nominated member shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-nomination on the expiry of his term.

(3) The office of a nominated member shall become vacant if he resigns or fails to attend three consecutive eetings of the Board without sufficient cause or leave of absence or his nomination is changed by the authority which had nominated him.

(4) A casual vacancy of a member shall be filled by a person nominated by the authority which had nominated the member whose vacancy is to be filled.

(5) The Vice-Chancellor shall act as the Chairman of the Board.

(6) The Registrar shall act as the Secretary of the Board.

(7) No act or proceedings of the Board shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of a vacancy in or a defect in constitution of the Board.

13. Powers and Functions of the Board.---(1) In particular, without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of subsection (1) of section 12, the Board shall exercise and perform the powers and functions as follows:---

(a) to hold, control and administer the property, funds, assets and resources of the University;

(b) to transfer and accept transfer of movable or immovable property on behalf of the University;

(c) to affiliate and disaffiliate colleges or institutions;

(d) to consider and approve, on the advice of the Finance and Planning Committee, the annual and revised budget estimates and to lay down guidelines or rules of business dealing with financial matters;

(e) to approve, carry out, vary or cancel contracts on behalf of the University;

(f) to initiate and approve schemes for achievement of the objectives of the University;

(g) to create professional research and administrative posts and such other posts as may be required to carry out the purposes of the University suspend or abolish such posts;

(h) to appoint teachers, researchers and officers on the recommendations of the Selection Board.

(i) to suspend, punish and remove from service the University employees whom it is empowered to appoint in the manner prescribed after due inquiry and defence;

(j) to propose Statutes for submission to the Chancellor;

(k) to approve Regulations or Rules on the recommendations of the appropriate bodies; and

(l) to determine, regulate and administer all other matters concerning the University and, to this end, exercise all necessary powers not specifically mentioned in the Act or the Statutes, the regulation or the rules.

(2) The Board may delegate any of its powers to an Authority or officer, or a committee or a sub-committee.

14. Meeting of the Board.--(1) The Board shall meet at least twice in a year on the dates to be fixed by the Vice-Chancellor: Provided that a special meeting may be called at any time on the direction of the Chancellor or on a requisition made by not less than six members of the Board to consider a matter of urgent nature.

(2) Not less than ten clear days’ notice of a special meeting shall be given to the members of the Board, and the agenda of the meeting shall be restricted to the matter for which the special meeting is called.

(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be one-half of total number of its members, a fraction being counted as one.

(4) The decision of the Board shall be expressed in terms of the views of the majority of the members present and voting and, if the members are equally divided, the Chairman of the Board shall have and exercise a casting vote.

15. Academic Council.--(1) The Academic Council shall consist of,---

(a) the Vice-Chancellor, who shall be the Chairman,

(b) the Deans;

(c) the Directors;

(d) the Chairmen of the Teaching Departments;

(e) the University Professors including Professors Emeritus;

(f) the Registrar who shall be the Secretary;

(g) two eminent scholars to be nominated by the Chancellor;

(2) A nominated member shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for renomination.

(3) The office of a nominated member shall become vacant if he resigns or fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Council without sufficient cause or leave of absence or his nomination is changed by the nominating authority.

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be one-half of the total number of members, a fraction being counted as one.

16. Powers and duties of the Academic Council.--(1) The Academic Council shall be the highest academic body of the University, and shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and the Statutes, have thepower to lay down proper standards of instruction, research and examinations, and to regu late and promote the academic life of the University.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the Council shall have the powers,---

(a) to advise the Board on academic matters;

(b) to regulate the admission of students to the courses of studies and examinations;

(c) to propose to the Board, schemes for the constitution and organisation of Faculties, Teaching Departments, Institutes and Boards of Studies;

(d) to consider or formulate proposals for the planning and development of teaching and research in the University;

(e) to make regulations on the recommendations of the Boards of Faculties and the Boards of Studies prescribing the courses of studies and the syllabi for all University examinations: provided that, if the recommendations of Boards of Faculties and Boards of Studies are not received by the prescribed date, the
Council may, subject to the approval of the Board, continue for the next year the courses of studies already prescribed for an examination;

(f) to recognise the examinations of other Universities of examining bodies as equivalent to the corresponding examinations of the University;

(g) to frame regulations for submission to the Board;

(h) to appoint members to the various authorities in accordance with the provisions of this Act; and

(i) to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by statutes.

17. Constitution, functions and powers of other authorities.--The constitution, functions and powers of the Authorities for which no specific provision or insufficient provision has been made in this Act shall be such as may be prescribed by statutes.

18. Appointment of Committees by the Authorities.--The Board, the Academic Council and other Authorities may appoint such Standing Special or Advisory Committees, as they may consider advantageous in the performance of their functions.

CHAPTER V

STATUTES, REGULATIONS AND RULES

19. Statutes.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, Statutes may be made to regulate or prescribe all or any of the following matters namely:---

(a) terms and conditions of service of employees of the University, including scales of pay, constitution of pension, insurance, gratuity, provident fund, benevolent fund and other fringe benefits;

(b) terms and conditions of contractual appointments of teachers, researchers and officers;

(c) establishment of Faculties Teaching Departments and other academic units and divisions;

(d) powers and duties of officers arid teachers;

(e) conditions under which the University may enter into arrangements with other public or private organizations for purposes of instruction, research and other scholarly activities;

(f) conditions of appointments of Professors Emeritus and award of honorary degrees.;

(g) efficiency and discipline of the employees of the University;

(h) acquisition and administration of properties and investment of the University; and

(i) all other matters which under this Act are required to be or may be prescribed or regulated by Statutes.

(2) The draft of the Statutes shall be proposed by the Board for approval by the Chancellor.

(3) The Chancellor shall have the powers to assent to the Statutes submitted to him for approval or refer them back to the Board for reconsideration.

(4) No Statute shall be valid until it has been approved by the Chancellor.

20. Regulation.--(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Statutes, regulations may be made for all or any of the following matters, namely:---

(a) Schemes of studies and research, including the duration of courses, number of subjects or papers for examination;

(b) Syllabi and courses of study and research programmes leading to degrees, diplomas or certificates;

(c) conduct and supervision of examinations, appointment of examiners, scrutiny, tabulation and declaration of results;

(d) determination of fees and other charges and academic qualification for admission to various courses, examinations and hostels;

(e) Maintenance of discipline among students and schemes for their welfare;

(f) Institution of fellowships, scholarships, prizes, medals, honoraria and other financial assistance for students and research scholars;

(g) conduct of convocation and form of academic costumes;

(h) conditions of residence of students;

(i) use of library; and

(j) all other academic matters which by this Act or Statutes are to be or may be prescribed by regulations.

(2) The Board shall have powers to approve the Regulations submitted to it or refer them back to the Academic Council for reconsideration.

(3) No Regulation shall be valid until it has been approved by the Board.

21. Rules.---(1) The Authorities and the other bodies of the University may make rules consistent with this Act, Statutes and the Regulations, to regulate the conduct of their business and the time and place of meetings and related matters.

(2) The Board may make rules to regulate any matter relating to the affairs of the University which under this Act is not specifically required to be provided for by the Statutes or the Regulations.

22. The University Fund, Audit and Accounts.---(1) The University shall have a fund to which shall be credited its income from fees donations, trusts, bequests, endowments, grants, contributions and all other sources.

(2) Capital and recurrent expenditure of the University shall be met from the contributions made by the Society and any other source, including other Societies, Universities and individuals, and from the income derived from such sources.

(3) No contribution, donation or grant which may directly or indirectly involve any immediate or subsequent financial liability for the University, or which may involve an activity not included in the programmes for the time being, shall be accepted without the prior approval of the Board.

(4) The accounts of the University shall be maintained in such form and manner as may be determined by the Board and shall be audited each year within four months of the closing of the financial year of the University by the Chartered Accountant appointed by the Board.

(5) The accounts, together with the report of the auditor thereon, shall be submitted to the Board for approval.

(6) The auditor’s report shall certify that the auditor has complied with the standards of audit and certification laid down by the institute of Chartered Accountants Pakistan

CHAPTER VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

23. Retirement from service.---An employee of the University shall retire from service:---

(I) On such date, after he has completed twenty-five years of service qualifying for pension or other retirement benefits, as the competent Authority may direct:---

Provided that no employee shall be retired unless he has been informed in writing of the grounds of the action proposed to be taken against him and has been given reasonable opportunity of showing cause against that action; or

(ii) Where no direction is given under clause (I) above on the completion of sixty years of his age.

24. Opportunity of Show Cause.--Except as otherwise provided, no officer, teacher or other employee of the University holding a permanent post, shall be reduced in rank, or removed or compulsorily retired from service, unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against him.

25. Appeal to, and review by the Board.---(l) Where an order is passed punishing an employee (other than Vice-Chancellor) of the University, or altering or interpreting to his disadvantage the prescribed terms or conditions of his service, he shall, where the order passed by the Vice-Chancellor or any other officer or teacher of the University, have the right to appeal to the Board, against the order, and, where the order is made by the Board, have the right to apply to that authority for review of that order.

(2) The appeal or application for review shall be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor who shall lay it before the Board with his views and record of the case.

(3) No order in appeal or review shall be made unless the appellant or the applicant, as the case may be, has been given an opportunity of being heard.

26. Pension, Insurance, Gratuity, Provident Fund and Benevolent Fund.---(1) The University shallconstitute for the benefit of its employees in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, such pension, insurance, gratuity, provident fund schemes as it may deem fit.

(2) Where any provident fund has been constituted under this Act, the provisions of the Provident Funds Act, 1925 shall apply to such fund

27. Commencement of term of office of members of Authorities.---When a member of a newly constituted Authority is appointed or nominated, his term of office, as fixed under this Act shall commence from such dates as may be prescribed.

28. Filling of Casual Vacancies in Authorities. ---Any casual vacancy among the appointed or nominated members of any Authority shall be filled as soon as conveniently may be, possible by the person or the body who appointed or nominated the member whose place has become vacant, and the person appointed or nominated to the vacancy shall be a member of such Authority for the residue of the term for which the person whose place he fills would have been a member:---

Provided that where a vacancy in the membership of an Authority, other than the Board, cannot be filled for the reason that the member was ex officio, and the office has ceased to exist or the organization, institution or other body other than the University has ceased to exist or has ceased to function, or for any other circumstances which make it impracticable to fill the vacancy, the vacancy shall be filled in such manner as
the Chancellor may direct on the recommendation.

29. Disputes about membership of Authorities. ---(I) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a person nominated or appointed to any Authority shall cease to be a member of such Authority as soon as he has ceased to hold the position by virtue of which he was nominated or appointed.

(2) If a question arises whether any person is entitled to be a member of any Authority, the matter shall be referred to a Committee consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief Justice of the High Court Sindh or the Judge of the High Court who is the member of the Board and a nominee of the Chancellor, and the decision of the Committee shall be final and binding.

30. Proceedings of the Authorities invalidated by vacancies.---No act, proceeding, resolution or decision of any Authority shall be invalid by reason only of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of, or in the appointment or nomination of any member of the Authority.

31. First Schedule.--- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Statutes set out in the Schedule, shall be deemed to be the Statutes framed under section 19 and shall remain in force until they are amended or replaced by new Statutes framed in accordance with this Act.

32. Bar of Jurisdiction.--- No court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any proceeding, grant any injunction or make any order in relation to anything done in good faith or purported to have been done or intended to be done under this Act.

33. Indemnity.--- No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against Government, the University or any Authority or an employee of Government or the University or any person, in respect of anything which is done, or purported to have been done in good faith or is intended to or has been done under this Act.

34. Affiliation of certain institutes.--- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act the following institutes shall stand affiliated to the University, and shall continue as such until disaffiliated in accordance with the prescribed conditions:---

(a) Institute of Business Administration;

(b) Institute of Computer Science;

(c) Institution of Dental Surgery;

(d) Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering;

(e) Institute of Electronics and Computer Sciences; and

(f) Institute of Engineering.

35. Discipline. --- The University shall have power to supervise and control the discipline of the students, staff and faculty of the University and institutes in the prescribed manner.

36. Removal of difficulties. --- If any difficulty arises as to the first constitution or reconstitution of any Authority upon coming into force of this Act or otherwise in giving effect to any provision of this Act the Chancellor may give appropriate directions to remove such difficulty.

37. Repeal.--- The Greenwich University Ordinance, 1997 is hereby repealed.