Punjab ombudsman prefers merit over experience

LAHORE – Punjab Ombudsman Khalid Mahmood concluded the hearing of an application filed by a complainant Zahid Nasim for the seat of Government Polytechnic Institute Kamalia lecturer on Friday. The Ombudsman observed that experience could not be compartmentalized in the categories of visiting, regular or part time and merit should be followed at any cost. Punjab Ombudsman during the hearing ordered Punjab TEVTA Chairman to appoint the rightful candidate as Lecturer (Math) on contractual basis.
According to the complainant, at the time of interview, his experience as a visiting lecturer in a government college was not considered by the selection committee and the other candidate Uzma Aslam was selected despite the fact that he was a No 1 on merit. During the investigation conducted on the direction of Punjab Ombudsman, it transpired that the candidates’ assessment report signed by the selection committee indicated that Zahid Nasim was awarded eleven marks for possessing requisite experience and his aggregate came to 67.1. Later on, eleven marks were deleted with the remarks, “visiting experience not accepted”.
On the other hand, the total marks secured by Ms Uzma Aslam (other candidate) were 65-9. It was worth noting that the complainant had been teaching in a prestigious government institute whereas Uzma Aslam had worked for more than a year as a regular lecturer in a private college. Finally Punjab Ombudsman directed TEVTA chairman to hear complainant’s viewpoint and re-determine the merit of the two candidates by giving due weightage to their respective experiences in accordance with the Agency’s policy.
In its compliance report, the TEVTA secretariat has informed that the matter was considered by Chairman TEVTA who upholding the direction given by the Ombudsman had observed that the selection committee committed an error in selection process for the post of Lecturer (Math) and Zahid Nasim deserved to be selected by virtue of securing better aggregate on merit because eleven marks for teaching experience should have been included in his merit.