ISLAMABAD - In a sheer violation of the university and the Higher Education Commission rules, the administration of National University of Modern Languages (NUML) has reappointed two retired directors on contract for two years which is extendable without the approval of Board of Governors. According to letters available with TheNation Brig (Retd) M Saeed Akhtar Malik, Director Academics, NUML Main Campus Islamabad and Brig (Retd) Abdul Waheed, Regional Director, NUML Regional Campus Faisalabad, have been appointed on contract for two years in BPS-20 that may be extended for a tenure or part thereof whereas according to the university ordinance and service rules no contract appointment can be made for a period exceeding two years. As per the university ordinance and service rules, no contract appointments can be made without properly advertising the posts followed by convening the selection board and formal approval by the Board of Governors. But in this case no advertisement appeared in the newspapers and no Selection Board was convened for the appointments even the Director General and Registrar of the university was kept away from the whole process. Similarly, the BoG was bypassed as appointments in BPS-17 and above both in academic and administrative cadre fall within the powers of BoG. It is pertinent to be stated here that the HEC has also clarified to the universities that appointments of eminent or retired professors was supported by the commission to meet the faculty requirements of the universities for teaching and supervising research of post-graduate students or conducting independent research. But such appointments are not meant to be made against the administrative positions as such appointments cause heartburning for the regular faculty members aspiring to become chairmen or deans in the academic setup. The Auditor General of Pakistan in its report had declared appointment in BPS-20 including these two appointments irregular as the appointment were made during the period of ban on recruitment by the Government. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Education expressing its concerns has also asked the university to cancel the appointments and re-advertise the posts but, on the contrary, these directors have been employed again by the university. According to sources, the DG of the university has also recommended the cancellation of the said and other similar appointments as such irregularities and misuse of official authority can be a cause of punitive action on the part of the Government. However, the Public Relations Officer of the university when contacted was of the view that the two appointments have been made by the chairman BoG according to the rules. He said some vested elements of the university were unjustly publicising the internal matters of the university and the administration strongly condemned such elements.