Kerala High Court
Sudha.M vs All India Council For Technical ... on 26 March, 2025
WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018
1
2025:KER:25672
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH 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
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-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
3
2025:KER:25672
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH 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
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-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
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE MOHAMMED NIAS C.P.
WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH 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
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
MOHAMMED NIAS C.P., J.
=======================================
W.P.(C) Nos.3117, 3174 & 3390 of 2018
=======================================
Dated this the 26th day of March, 2025
JUDGMENT
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 2nd 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
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
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3174/2018
PETITIONER EXHIBITS :
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA
2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK
2018-19.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE
APPENDIX 17 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS
HANDBOOK 2018-19.
WP(C) NOs. 3117, 3174 & 3390 OF 2018
2025:KER:25672
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3390/2018
PETITIONER EXHIBITS :
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA
2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS AND
BOOK2018-19
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE 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
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 3117/2018
PETITIONER EXHIBITS :
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE PARA
2.11.2 OF AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK
2018-19.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT EXTRACT OF THE
APPENDIX 17 AICTE APPROVAL PROCESS HANDBOOK
2018-19.
// True Copy // PA To Judge
