The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench on Monday (August 24) raised significant questions regarding the requirement that institutions obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the state government before commencing a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) course.
As reported by PTI, the court has asked the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to provide a detailed response, along with relevant documents, on the issue.
A bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Manjive Shukla passed the order while hearing a batch of petitions involving the PCI, the Uttar Pradesh government and various educational institutions.
The PCI has been instructed to file an affidavit, if required, within two weeks.
‘Why No Prescribed Format or Clear Criteria Was Outlined?’ Court Questions
The bench noted that under the Bachelor of Pharmacy Course Regulations, 2014, an institution asking for approval is required to have facilities, including buildings, accommodation, laboratories, equipment and teaching and non-teaching staff.
The court inquired why no prescribed proforma or explicit criteria were prescribed for issuance of an NOC by the state government.
The bench further asked why an NOC was necessary for B. Pharm courses when no such requirement is required for Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) courses.
The court ordered the PCI to specify the definition and scope of the scheme referred to in Regulation 9. It also asked the state government to place on record one or two NOCs issued by it earlier as instances.
The bench further inquired about the difference between an NOC and consent for affiliation.
“Prima facie, the court observed that affiliation was a matter concerning the university or the competent affiliating authority and could be considered after approval by the PCI. It observed that the PCI itself could conduct inspections to ascertain whether the institutions fulfilled the prescribed norms,” according to the news agency.
The court also queried the government order dated October 31, 2025, under which the state government had eliminated the mandate of an NOC at the preliminary stage of applications for BPharm courses. The PCI was questioned as to whether it could object to the said government order.
Furthermore, the bench reviewed the state government’s authority to declare a zero session or impose a moratorium on B. Pharm and D. Pharm institutions or courses.
The matter has now been listed for hearing after two weeks.
(With PTI Inputs)