(Prayer: Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Certiorarifed Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings issued by the 3rd respondent Pharmacy Council of India dated 23.01.2026 rejecting the petitioner’s application for starting Pharm.D and Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) courses for the academic year 2026-2027 and the consequential proceedings in Ref.No.PCI-1783/2026 (Tamil Nadu) dated 03.02.2026, quash the same and further direct the 3rd respondent to grant approval to the petitioner college to start additional courses of 6 year Pharm.D course with 30 seats and 3 year Pharm.D /(Post Baccalaureate) course with 10 seats in the petitioner college from the academic year 2026-27 within a reasonable time as may be fixed by this Honourable court.)

1. This Writ Petition is filed for a Certiorarifed Mandamus, calling for the records relating to the impugned proceedings issued by the 3rd respondent, Pharmacy Council of India, dated 23.01.2026, rejecting the petitioner’s application for starting Pharm.D and Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) courses for the academic year 2026-2027 and the consequential proceedings dated 03.02.2026 and to quash the same and further direct the 3rd respondent to grant approval to the petitioner’s college to start additional courses of 6 year Pharm.D course with 30 seats and 3 year Pharm.D/(Post Baccalaureate) course with 10 seats in the petitioner college from the academic year 2026-2027.

2. Upon hearing the Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner and perusing the material cards of the case, the only ground on which the impugned order was passed is that the petitioner did not submit the completed applications in all respects before the cut-off date that was originally fixed on 14.11.2025.

3. However, when the matter came up for hearing, the Learned Counsel for the petitioner would place on record a communication dated 10.02.2026. As per the communication, it can be seen that subsequently the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India had extended time by order in M.A.No.220 of 2026 and the last date for applying for the academic session of 2026-2027 now stands on 27.02.2026.

4. Mr.M.T.Arunan, Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents would submit that the same would apply only for the existing Pharmacy Institutions. For the first time that Pharm.D and Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) courses are being applied by the petitioner’s institute and therefore, the same will not apply to the petitioner institution. I am unable to agree with the said submission.

5. The petitioner is an existing Institution running the other courses and therefore, now wants to start the 6th year Pharm.D course and Pharma.D (Postgraduate Baccalaureate) course. Therefore, the said extension of time would apply as such. Further, it can be seen that even the original delay cannot be attributed on the part of the petitioner but it was only on account of the delay in issue of consent from the appropriate University.

6. Be that as it may, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has now extended the time and the petitioner is well within the time. The second argument is made on behalf of the Pharmacy Council of India by Mr.M.T.Arunan by relying upon the regulations titled Pharm.D Regulations, 2008, notified with effect from 10.05.2008. The Learned Counsel would rely upon Regulation No.6, which is extracted hereunder and for ready reference.

                   “6. Institutions running B.Pharm programme approved under Section 12 of the Pharmacy Act, will only be permitted to run Pharm.D.Programme. Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) programme will be permitted only in those institutions which are permitted to run Pharm.D programme.”

7. Therefore, the Learned Counsel would submit that the Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) program cannot be considered now for the present academic year.

8. Upon considering the above regulations, the Regulations only state that first the Institutions should be permitted to run Pharm D and upon permission being granted, the Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) program will be permitted. It does not stipulate as if the Pharm.D course have to be run and only after passing out of the first set of students, the Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) can be granted. Therefore, it would be open for the respondents to consider first the permission of Pharm.D programme. Once the order is passed, immediately for the present academic year itself, the second prayer for Pharm.D Post Baccalaureate can be considered.

9. However, Mr.M.T.Arunan, the Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the 4th respondent would place on record the policy decision that is taken by the Pharmacy Council of India and it is essential to extract paragraph 11 of his written instructions, which reads as under.

                   “11. Further, as per policy, an institution may apply for introduction of only one new course at a time. The institution applied for both Pharm.D and Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) courses for the Academic Session 2026-2027, whereas, only one new course (i.e., Pharm.D) is permissible at the initial stage. Application for Pharm.D(Post Baccalaureate) can be submitted only in the fourth year of the Pharm.D course.”

10. The Learned Counsel submitted that, as per the same, now the petitioner institution can apply only for one new course. Once permission for the Pharm.D is granted, thereafter only in the 4th year, Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) can be considered.

11. In response, the Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that there is nothing in the Regulations with reference to the same. The written instructions are based on the internal deliberations upon which not even any circular is issued, no policy decision has been communicated to the Institution so far.

12. In view of the rival contentions made before this Court and without expressing any opinion with reference to the Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate), let the respondents first consider the application for the Pharm.D for the academic year 2026-2027. Upon passing the orders of Pharm.D, immediately the application for Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) program shall be considered by the respondent No.3 and due speaking order be passed.

13. In view thereof, this Writ Petition is allowed on the following terms:

(i) The impugned order dated 23.01.2026 stands set aside.

(ii) The 3rd respondents shall treat the application of the petitioner in time and shall first take up the application for Pharm.D program for the academic session 2026-2027 and pass orders thereon in accordance with law. Once the permission for the Pharm.D program is granted immediately, the application for Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) shall be taken up and due opportunity for the petitioner shall be given and speaking order shall be passed as far as the Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) is concerned. The first exercise for consideration of Pharm.D shall be completed on or before 31.03.2026 as the admission starts in the month of April. Immediately thereof, let the enquiry in respect of Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) shall also be completed and final orders be passed within a period of four weeks thereafter.

(iii) The authorities to act on the web copy of the order without waiting for the certified copy of the order. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petitions are closed.