LAHORE HIGH COURT, REGARDING STATUS OF NTS.

LAHORE HIGH COURT, LAHORE JUDGMENT IN WRIT PETITION NO. 28028/2011, REGARDING STATUS OF NTS. The LHC has passed final judgment dated 23.01.2014, in Writ Petition No. 28028/2011. It is held by the LHC, Lahore that NTS has not been approved by HEC to act as testing body under the HEC Ordinance, 2002 and the existing arrangements between NTS and HEC shall only continue till 30.05.2014 (cut of date) HEC shall not enter with NTS after the said cut of date. This gist of the LHC, Lahore judgment dated 23.01.2014 is reproduced for information of the public at large: Gist of judgment dated 23.01.2014 of LHC, Lahore para 10 of the judgment. 10. In the light of the above background, HEC and NTS have arrived at the following consensus: (i) That HEC will not sponsor or extend any patronage to NTS, as NTS is not an officially approved national testing service under the Ordinance (ii) The Universities and other academic institutions recognized by HEC are not under any lawful obligation to conduct tests organized by NTS or be bound by the results of NTS in the matter of admissions or grant of scholarships (iii) HEC through proper channel, will propose an amendment in the Ordinance/Rules in order to provide a proper regulatory statutory framework for establishing, monitoring and supervising a “nati testing service” Till such time that HEC will not initiate the process of selecting and appointing a national testing body under the Ordinance (iv) NTS shall not hold itself outtesting as an service”. It may, however, continue under the law, but shall not in any manner be taken to be an HEC approved entity. (v) HEC will not enter into any fresh contract with NTS or any other entity unless and until NTS or any such entity has been duly approved by HEC under the Ordinance and in the manner described above (vi) The existing contract/arrangement entered between NTS and the Universities/academic institutions may continue or may be reviewed by the respective Universities/academic institutions, as the case may be, in the light of this order (vii) The existing arrangement between HEC and NTS shall only continue till 30.05.2014 (cut off date). HEC shall not enter into any arrangement/contract with NTS after the said cut off date. 11. Order accordingly./ 12. HEC shall also ensure that the gist of this order is publically advertised so as to dispel the impression that NTS is a duly approved national testing body of HEC and will also duly intimate all the recognized Universities and academic institutions that admissions/scholarships will not be dependent on the test conducted by NTS after 30.05.2014. It will be the option of the University/academic institution to enter into an arrangement with NTS which will be no more than a private contractual arrangement under the law governing the said University/academic institution. HEC will also display this order on its website for the facilitation of the public. 13. It is observed that this order does not touch upon past and closed transactions, therefore admissions and scholarships already granted or refused on the basis of the tests conducted by NTS in the past will not be reopened by virtue of this order. It is once again reiterated that the existing arrangement between NTS and HEC shall continue till 30.05.2014. This order shall, therefore, have a prospective effect only.