Process applications of New Pharmacy Colleges: SC to PCI

The top court of India has directed the PCI to accept and process the applications of new pharmacy colleges.

Supreme Court of India has directed the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to accept and process the applications of new pharmacy colleges which had moved to Delhi and Karnataka high courts against the moratorium issued by the PCI. 

The top court has expressed concern over the mushrooming pharmacy colleges and said nowadays, education has become an industry, and there are big business houses, as reported by NDTV.

"Because of the high cost of medical education here, students from India were required to go to Ukraine. It is much cheaper there," the apex court added.

While listing the next hearing for July 26, the court said, "By way of ad-interim orders, we direct the Pharmacy Council of India to accept and process the application of the applicants who were petitioners before the high court and no final decision be taken on approval or disapproval till final decision."

Moratorium was issued due to mushrooming pharmacy colleges, said PCI's counsel

Appearing for the PCI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the moratorium was issued due to the mushrooming of pharmacy colleges, and in fact, these are "industries" in garb of institutions. 

The colleges' counsel said that they have lost three years due to the moratorium.  The court has passed the judgement on a batch of 88 writ petitions challenging the moratorium and its exceptions. The petitioners want to establish pharmacy colleges and hence require the approval of PCI.

Read more:

• Delhi HC sets aside PCI moratorium on opening new pharmacy colleges
• AKTU students federation demands AKTU to follow Pharmacy Council of India guidelines