High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeWrit petitions allowed; AICTE approval not requ...

W.P.(C) Nos. 3117, 3174 & 3390 of 2018

Case / Petition Number:WP(C) Nos. 3117, 3174 & 3390 of 2018

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • Mohammed Nias C.P.
Judgment Date
2025-03-26
Court Decision / Holding
These writ petitions are allowed as prayed for. The court held that for institutions already running Pharm D courses with PCI approval and affiliated to KUHS, AICTE approval is not required; AICTE’s 2018-19 para 2.11.2 does not apply to such institutions. The decision relies on the Supreme Court’s Toshniwal judgment, which stated that the Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail for pharmacy education, and PCI norms under that Act must be followed by such institutions.
Final Disposition
Writ petitions allowed; AICTE approval not required for Pharm D programs already approved by PCI and affiliated to KUHS; 2018-19 AICTE process not applicable to these institutions.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • KERALA STATE SELF FINANCING PHARMACY COLLEGE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (KSSPCMA)
  • Fr. Jose Mailadiath, Administrator, Nirmala College of Pharmacy
  • Prem Krishnan P. P., Managing Trustee, KTN College of Pharmacy
  • Unneenkutty P. P., General Secretary, Grace College of Pharmacy
  • Sr. Roger MSJ, Chairperson, Dharmagiri St. Joseph's Hospital Trust
  • Dr. Preeja G. Pillai, Principal, KVM College of Pharmacy
  • Fr. Varghese Pathadan, Director, St. James College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Managing Trustee, Devaki Amma Memorial Trust (Manu)
  • Director, Dale View College of Pharmacy & Research Centre
  • Dr. Suja C., Principal, Crescent College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Rev. Dr. Mathew Mazhavan Cheril, Director, Pushpagiri Group of Institutions (Academics & Research)
  • Dr. B. Sreedhareen, Principal, Nehru College of Pharmacy
  • Fr. Mathew Kuruvilla Eruthipattu, Manager, Nazareth College of Pharmacy
  • Sudha M., General Secretary, EZHUTHACHAN National Academy
  • Trustee, National College of Pharmacy (Manassery)

Respondents

  • All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
  • Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS)
  • Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • P. Ravindran (Sr.)
  • • Aparna Rajan
  • • Sreedhar Ravindran
  • • Liza Megha Cyriac
  • • Lakshmi Ramadas

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Jaykar K.S.
  • • Assistant Solicitor General
  • • G. Balu
  • • M. Ramya Ramachandran
  • • S. Dhanya (D-418)
  • • R. Anil Babu
  • • Sajith Kumar V.
  • • Mini Gopinath
  • • Liza Meghan Cyriac (appearing for AICTE)
  • • Lakshmi Ramadas (appearing for AICTE)
  • • Sreedhar Ravindran (appearing for AICTE)

Case Synopsis & Summary

These writ petitions challenge AICTE's requirement of AICTE approval for Pharm D programs run with PCI approval and affiliated to KUHS in Kerala. The petitioners, comprising a professional association and several college trustees and principals, contend that institutions already running Pharm D courses with PCI recognition and affiliated to KUHS should not need AICTE approval under para 2.11.2 of AICTE Approval Process Handbook 2018-19. They rely on the primacy of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and the norms and regulations laid down by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), arguing that those standards govern pharmacy education and that AICTE approval would be outside the prescribed regulatory regime for such courses. The respondents—AICTE, KUHS, and PCI—defend AICTE’s supervisory role and the applicability of AICTE’s handbook to expansion or modification of programs. The court, citing the Supreme Court in Pharmacy Council of India v. Dr. S.K. Toshniwal Educational Trusts Vidarbha Institute of Pharmacy & Others (2021) 10 SCC 657, held that the Pharmacy Act, 1948 prevails in pharmacy education and PCI norms under that Act govern such institutions; AICTE’s 2018-19 process cannot override them. Accordingly, the petitions were allowed, clarifying the hierarchical primacy of the Pharmacy Act over AICTE Handbook for the Pharm D domain in Kerala.

Provisions of Law Cited

Pharmacy Act, 1948

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail; norms and regulations under the Pharmacy Act (PCI) must be followed by institutions imparting pharmacy education; PCI decisions shall be followed by such institutions.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioners submitted that the authority of AICTE does not extend to regulate Pharm D programs already running with PCI recognition and affiliated to KUHS, and that AICTE’s para 2.11.2 2018-19 Handbook has no application to such institutions. They argued that the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and PCI norms govern pharmacy education, including intake decisions, and that PCI decisions must be followed by institutions offering pharmacy degrees and diplomas. They relied on the Supreme Court’s Toshniwal decision to contend that PCI norms prevail over AICTE processes for pharmacy education.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contended that AICTE’s regulatory regime applies to all professional education institutions; AICTE approvals may be needed for expansions or modifications under the 2018-19 Handbook. They argued that AICTE and PCI together regulate pharmacy education and that the AICTE framework is applicable to ensure uniform standards across the sector. They emphasized the need to prevent regulatory fragmentation and to preserve statutory hierarchy in higher education regulation.

Cited Precedents (6)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Pharmacy Council Of India v. Dr. S.K. Toshniwal Educational Trusts Vidarbha Institute of Pharmacy & Others(2021) 10 SCC 657PositiveThe court extracts and relies on the Toshniwal judgement to conclude that the Pharmacy Act prevails and PCI norms govern pharmacy education, superseding AICTE requirements for Pharm D programs in this context.
Association of Management of Private Colleges vs All India Council for Technical Education & Others(2013) 8 SCC 271Mentioned OnlyExhibited in the Appendix; the judgment cites it as a related authority but does not rely on it as a binding basis for the decision.
Shri Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House's College of Architecture & Others vs State of Maharashtra & OthersWP(C) No. 594/2004Mentioned OnlyListed as an exhibit; no direct application or holding cited in the Kerala judgment.
Civil Appeal No.3797 of 1996Civil Appeal No.3797/1996Mentioned OnlyIncluded as an exhibit; not discussed or distinguished within the judgment's reasoning.
Sharmishtha Das vs Union of India & Others(2005) 2 Delhi High Court 2669/2005Mentioned OnlyListed in exhibits; not evaluated or distinguished in the judgment.
SLP No. 26936/2004SLP(C) No. 26936/2004Mentioned OnlyExhibit reference; no treatment or quotation in the judgment.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 1 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.`** ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 26[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 5TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` ## **`WP(C) NO. 3117 OF 2018`** ## **`PETITIONERS:`** - **`1 KERALA STATE SELF FINANCING PHARMACY COLLEGE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION`** - **`(KSSPCMA), CHALAKUDY, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, RAJITHAN E. P. B. (REGISTER NO: 450/2004 DATED 18.08.2004).`** - **`2 FR. JOSE MAILADIATH ADMINISTRATOR, NIRMALA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, MUVATTUPUZHA, ERNAKULAM (DIST.), KERALA-686661.`** - **`3 PREM KRISHNAN P. P. MANAGING TRUSTEE, KTN COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, CHALAVARA, CHEPULASSERY, PALAKKAD.`** - **`4 UNNEENKUTTY P. P. GENERAL SECRETARY, GRACE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, KODUNTHIRAPPULLY, PALAKKAD-678004.`** - **`5 SR. ROGER MSJ CHAIRPERSON, DHARMAGIRI ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL TRUST, CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA, PIN-688524.`** - **`6 DR. PREEJA G. PILLAI PRINCIPAL, KVM COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, KOKKOTHAMANGALAM P.O., CHERTHALA, ALAPPUZHA (DIST.), PIN-688583.`** - **`7 FR. VARGHESE PATHADAN DIRECTOR, ST. JAMES COLLEGE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, RIVER BANK, CHALAKUDY-680307.`** ``` BY ADVS. SRI.P.RAVINDRAN (SR.) SMT.APARNA RAJAN SRI.SREEDHAR RAVINDRAN ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 2 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** ``` 1ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF HRD, GOVT. OF INDIA), 7TH FLOOR, CHANDRALOK BUILDING, JANPATH, NEW DELHI-110001. ``` - **`2 KERALA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR, THRISSUR-680596.`** - **`3 PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR-CUM SECRETARY, NEW DELHI-110002.`** ``` BY ADVS. JAYKAR.K.S. ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL SRI.G.BALU SMT.M.RAMYA RAMACHANDRAN SMT.S.DHANYA (D-418) SRI.R.ANIL BABU SRI.SAJITH KUMAR V. MINI GOPINATH ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26.03.2025, ALONG WITH WP(C).3174/2018, 3390/2018, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` ``` 3 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.`** ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 26[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 5TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` ## **`WP(C) NO. 3174 OF 2018`** ## **`PETITIONERS:`** - **`1 MANAGING TRUSTEE, DEVAKI AMMA MEMMORIAL TRUST "MAANU"- 5/493-B1, SASTHRI NAGAR, ERANHIPALAM, KOZHIKODE-6.`** - **`2 THE DIRECTOR DALE VIEW COLLEGE OF PHARMACY & RESEARCH CENTRE PUNALAL P.O., VIA POOVACHAL, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695575.`** - **`3 DR. SUJA C. PRINCIPAL, CRESCENT COLLEGE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, ADAYIPARA, P.O. PAYANGADI (R.S), KANNUR-670358.`** - **`4 REV. DR. MATHEW MAZHAVANCHERIL DIRECTOR, ACADEMICS & RESEARCH PUSHPAGIRI GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS, THIRUVALLA-689101.`** - **`5 DR. B. SREEDHAREEN PRINCIPAL, NEHRU COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, PAMBADY, THIRUVILWAMALA, THRISSUR-680588.`** - **`6 FR. MATHEW KURUVILLA ERUTHIPATTU MANAGER, NAZARETH COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, OTHARA P.O., THIRUVALLA-689546.`** ``` BY ADVS. SRI.P.RAVINDRAN (SR.) SMT.APARNA RAJAN SMT.LIZA MEGHAN CYRIAC SMT.LAKSHMI RAMADAS SRI.SREEDHAR RAVINDRAN ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 4 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** ``` 1ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF HRD, GOVT. OF INDIA), 7TH FLOOR, CHANDRALOK BUILDING, JANPATH, NEW DELHI-110001. ``` - **`2 KERALA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR, THRISSUR-680596.`** - **`3 PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR-CUM SECRETARY, NEW DELHI-110002.`** ``` BY ADVS. SRI.JAYKAR K.S., SC, AICTE ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL SRI.G.BALU SMT.M.RAMYA RAMACHANDRAN SMT.S.DHANYA (D-418) SRI.R.ANIL BABU SRI.SAJITH KUMAR V. MINI GOPINATH ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26.03.2025, ALONG WITH WP(C).3117/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 5 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ## **`THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.`** ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 26[TH] DAY OF MARCH 2025 / 5TH CHAITHRA, 1947 ``` ## **`WP(C) NO. 3390 OF 2018`** ## **`PETITIONERS:`** - **`1 SUDHA.M GENERAL SECRETARY, EZHUTHACHAN NATIONAL ACADEMY,MARAYAMUTTOM, NEYYATTINKARA, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695124`** - **`2 THE TRUSTEE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, MANASSERY, KOZHIKODE-673 602.`** ## **`BY ADVS. SRI.SREEDHAR RAVINDRAN SMT.LAKSHMI RAMADAS`** ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION (A STATUTORY BODY UNDER MINISTRY OF HRD, GOVT. OF INDIA)7TH FLOOR, CHANDRALOK BUILDING, JANPATH,NEW DELHI-110 001`** - **`2 KERALA UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR, THRISSUR-680596`** - **`3 PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY REGISTRAR- CUM SECRETARY, NEW DELHI- 110 002.`** ``` BY ADVS. JAYKAR.K.S. ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 6 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` ASSISTANT SOLICITOR GENERAL SRI.G.BALU SMT.M.RAMYA RAMACHANDRAN SMT.S.DHANYA (D-418) SRI.R.ANIL BABU MINI GOPINATH ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26.03.2025, ALONG WITH WP(C).3117/2018 AND CONNECTED CASES, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 7 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **MOHAMMED NIAS C.P., J.** ## **=======================================** ## **W.P.(C) Nos.3117, 3174 & 3390 of 2018 ======================================= Dated this the 26[th] day of March, 2025** ## **J U D G M E N T** ## These writ petitions are filed with the following prayers; “ i) Declare that for institutions already running Pharm D course with the approval of Pharmacy Council of India and affiliated to the 2[nd] respondent University do not have to obtain AICTE approval; ii) Declare that para 2.11.2 of the Approval Process Handbook of AICTE for the year 2018-19 has no application to institutions already running Pharm D course with the approval of the Pharmacy Council of India and affiliation to the 2[nd] respondent University; iii) Issue any other such writ, order or direction as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and necessary in order to meet the ends of justice on the facts and in the circumstances of the instant case; and iv) Award the costs of this case to the petitioner.” ## 2. The learned Counsel appearing for both sides submitted ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 8 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` that the issue is covered in their favour by the judgment of the Supreme Court in _**The Pharmacy Council Of India v. Dr.S.K.Toshniwal Educational Trusts Vidarbha Institute of Pharmacy & Others (2021 (10) SCC 657)**_ . The relevant portion of the judgment is extracted here under; “ In the field of pharmacy education and more particularly so far as the recognition of degrees and diplomas of pharmacy education is concerned, the Pharmacy Act, 1948 shall prevail. The norms and regulations set by PCI and other specified authorities under the Pharmacy Act would have to be followed by the institutions concerned imparting education for degrees and diplomas in pharmacy, including the norms and regulations with respect to increase and/or decrease in intake capacity of the students and the decisions of PCI shall only be followed by the institutions imparting degrees and diplomas in pharmacy. The questions are answered accordingly. ” Given the above, these writ petitions are allowed as prayed for. Sd/- **MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.,** **JUDGE** LU ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` ``` 9 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3174/2018`** ``` PETITIONER EXHIBITS : ``` ``` EXHIBIT P1TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA 2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK 2018-19. ``` ``` EXHIBIT P2TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE APPENDIX 17 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK 2018-19. ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 10 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3390/2018`** ## **`PETITIONER EXHIBITS :`** ``` EXHIBIT P1TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA 2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS AND BOOK2018-19 ``` ``` EXHIBIT P2TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE APPENDIX 17 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK 2018-19 ``` ## **`RESPONDENT EXHIBITS :`** ``` EXHIBIT-R3(A)TRUE COPY OF THE CIVIL APPEAL NO.3797 OF 1996 ORDER DATED 29.03.2000 ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA. EXHIBIT-R3(B)TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 08.09.04 OF THE HON'BLE BOMBAY HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF SHRI PRINCE SHIVAJI MARATHA BOARDING HOUSE'S COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & ORS VS.STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS - WP(C) NO.594/2004. EXHIBIT-R3(C)TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 10.01.2005 IN SLP (C) NO.26936/2004 OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA. EXHIBIT-R3(D)TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 12.07.2005 OF THE DELHI HIGH COURT IN THE CASE OF MS.SHARMISHTHA DAS VS.UNION OF INDIA & ORS. - WP(C) NO.2669/2005. EXHIBIT-R3(E)TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT IN THE CASE OF ASSOCIATION OF MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE COLLEGEES VS.ALL INDIA COUNCIL FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION & OTHERS- (2013) 8 SCC 271. EXHIBIT-R3(F)TRUE COPY OF THE PHAMACY PRACTICE REGULATIONS, 2015. ``` ``` WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018 ``` ``` 2025:KER:25672 ``` ``` 11 ``` **==> picture [58 x 57] intentionally omitted <==** ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3117/2018`** ## **`PETITIONER EXHIBITS :`** ``` EXHIBIT P1TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA 2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK 2018-19. ``` ``` EXHIBIT P2TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE APPENDIX 17 AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK 2018-19. ``` ``` // True Copy // PA To Judge ```