Allowed¶41

Jyotiraditya Institute of Pharmacy v. Pharmacy Council of India

Delhi HC14 Nov 2025W.P.(C)/17293/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Pharmacy Council of India; extension of approval; M. Pharm; Pharm D; B. Pharm; D. Pharm; activation of portal tab; academic session 2026-27; NOC/Consent of Affiliation; Standard Inspection Format (SIF); deadline 31.10.2025 extended to 15.11.2025; W.P.(C) 13928/2025 order dated 19.09.2025; CONT.CAS (C) 1498/2025; MA. No. 1987/2025 in C.A. No. 9048/2012; Article 226; Delhi High Court; Justice Jyoti Singh; fruits of earlier litigation.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition allowed and disposed of; PCI directed to take necessary steps to ensure the Petitioner can submit its application for extension of approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27 forthwith. ¶41

Jyotiraditya Institute of Pharmacy Vs Pharmacy… — Writ and Judicial Review | Delhi HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶41

Issue for consideration

Whether PCI should be directed to activate the tab on its portal for M. Pharm and Pharm D. Courses so as to enable the Petitioner to submit its application for extension of approval for academic session 2026-27, given that the last date of 31.10.2025 had passed and approval for 2025-26 was granted only on 05.11.2025 after earlier litigation.

¶13

Court's answer

The Petitioner cannot be faulted for the delay in grant of approval for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2025-26; it was illegally denied approval, had to succeed in W.P.(C) 13928/2025 and pursue a contempt petition before obtaining approval on 05.11.2025, so the delay was not of its making.

¶40

Ratio / Principle

Since the Petitioner became eligible to apply for academic session 2026-27 only after approval issued on 05.11.2025, denying it the opportunity to apply for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for 2026-27 would amount to defeating its rights and taking away the benefits of the earlier litigation.

¶40

Key takeaways

PCI is directed to take necessary steps to ensure that the Petitioner is able to submit its application for extension of approval for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27 forthwith.ratio¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Jyoti Singh, J.), W.P.(C) 17293/2025, decided 14.11.2025 — Writ petition under Article 226 by Jyotiraditya Institute of Pharmacy allowed and disposed of. PCI had rejected fresh approval of the Institute's M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for 2025-26 for want of NOC/Consent of Affiliation and granted approval only on 05.11.2025, after the Institute succeeded in W.P.(C) 13928/2025 (order dated 19.09.2025) and pursued contempt proceedings (CONT.CAS (C) 1498/2025). Because the window for applying for extension of approval for 2026-27 closed on 31.10.2025 (later extended to 15.11.2025) while approval for 2025-26 was still pending, and PCI's portal did not permit the application, the Court held the Petitioner could not be faulted for the delay and that denying it the opportunity to apply would defeat its rights and the fruits of the earlier litigation; PCI was directed to take necessary steps to enable submission of the application for extension of approval for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for 2026-27 forthwith.

¶1

$~92

¶2

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

¶3

- W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶4

JYOTIRADITYA INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY .....Petitioner

¶5

Through: Mr. Chandrashekhar Singh, Advocate.

¶6

versus

¶7

PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA .....Respondent Through: Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Mr. Yatharth Singh and Ms. Shrishti Guatam, Advocates.

¶8

CORAM:

¶9

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JYOTI SINGH

¶10

O R D E R

¶11

% 14.11.2025

¶12

This writ petition is filed on behalf of the Petitioner under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:-

¶13

“(a) seeking direction to respondent to activate the tab in respect of M. Pharm and Pharm D. Courses on its portal, so as to enable the petitioner to submit its application for extension of approval for the ensuing academic session 2026-27, in respect of petitioner’s said M. Pharm and Pharm D. Courses duly approved for academic session 2025-26; and/or”

¶14

As per the case set out by the Petitioner, PCI granted approval to the Petitioner institute on 10.06.2019 for conduct of first year B. Pharm course for 100 admissions and conduct of first year D. Pharm course for 60 admissions for academic session 2019-20. By letter dated 22.08.2024, PCI communicated extension for the two courses.

¶15

It is stated in the petition that vide circular dated 17.12.2024, PCI invited applications from institutions for extension of approvals for existing pharmacy courses, fresh approvals for other courses as well as approvals for new institutions and mandated submission of Consent of Affiliation from the Affiliating Universities. In January, 2025 Petitioner submitted its Standard Inspection Format (‘SIF’) for extension of approval of its existing courses as

¶16

W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶17

Page 1 of 5

¶18

This is a digitally signed order.

¶19

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/11/2025 at 13:12:15

¶20

well as approval for new courses i.e., M. Pharm and Pharm D., for academic session 2025-26. On 29.03.2025, Affiliating University wrote to PCI that there was no provision in the University Act/Regulation to give any prior NOC/Consent of Affiliation and therefore, decision in this regard will be taken after any guideline is issued in this respect by the State Government. On 28.08.2025, PCI granted extension of approval to Petitioner’s existing D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses but rejected the application for fresh approval for new courses i.e., M. Pharm and Pharm D., for want of NOC/ Consent of Affiliation.

¶21

It is stated that being aggrieved, Petitioner filed W.P.(C) 13928/2025 before this Court, which was allowed vide order dated 19.09.2025 directing PCI to treat the counter affidavit filed by the University as its consent and process Petitioner’s application for grant of approval for academic session 2025-26. Since PCI failed to grant approval, Petitioner filed contempt petition being CONT.CAS (C) 1498/2025 seeking compliance of order dated 19.09.2025. When the petition was listed on 31.10.2025, counsel for PCI assured the Court that Petitioner’s application will be considered for academic session 2025-26 and decision will be intimated to the Petitioner. Contempt petition was re-notify for 06.11.2025 for compliance.

¶22

It is stated that on 31.10.2025, on an application filed by PCI being MA. No. 1987/2025 in C.A. No. 9048/2012, Court extended the last date for considering cases of grant of approval upto 15.11.2025. In light of this, PCI issued letter dated 05.11.2025 to the Petitioner granting extension of approval for its D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses and fresh approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2025-26. In the meantime, on 03.10.2025, PCI invited applications from the new/existing

¶23

W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶24

Page 2 of 5

¶25

This is a digitally signed order.

¶26

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/11/2025 at 13:12:15

¶27

institutions for approval/extension of approval for academic session 202627. The applications were required to be submitted on or before 31.10.2025. 6. It is stated that on receipt of approval letter dated 05.11.2025 granting approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2025-26, Petitioner initiated steps to submit application for extension of approval for academic session 2026-27 for the said courses, however, it was unsuccessful in uploading the same on the portal and Petitioner brought this grievance to the notice of PCI, but no action was taken. On 08.11.2025 again Petitioner apprised PCI of this situation and requested to activate the portal to submit application for extension. By another letter of the same date, Petitioner furnished an undertaking on affidavit that it had adequate and requisite infrastructural facilities and faculty for teaching the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses, however, there was no response. On 10.11.2025, PCI extended the last date for submission of applications for extension of approval upto 15.11.2025 and on 13.11.2025, Petitioner made a representation to permit it to upload the application for approval but getting no response, present petition was filed.

¶28

Learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that Petitioner could apply for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for the academic session 2026-27 only after approval was granted on 05.11.2025 for the said courses for the academic session 2025-26. The delay in approval was owing to the fault of PCI and Petitioner had to knock the doors of this Court for grant of approval. Petitioner succeeded in W.P.(C) 13928/2025 and Court directed PCI vide order dated 19.09.2025 to treat the affidavit of University, granting No Objection to Affiliation, as its consent for the two courses and to process the application of the Petitioner in accordance with law, subject to

¶29

W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶30

Page 3 of 5

¶31

This is a digitally signed order.

¶32

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/11/2025 at 13:12:15

¶33

completion of other formalities. In a contempt petition filed by the Petitioner, PCI’s counsel informed the Court that approval had been granted vide communication dated 05.11.2025 for academic session 2025-26. The Court directed to upload the order on the website forthwith and contempt petition was withdrawn. Therefore, Petitioner is now entitled to apply for approval of M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27. 8. Learned counsel further submits that since the last date of 31.10.2025 for submitting applications for extension of approval for academic session 2026-27 was approaching and Petitioner had approval for D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses, as per approval letter dated 28.08.2025, Petitioner could only submit its application for the said courses and not for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses. To avoid any complexity, Petitioner proceeded to submit the application for existing approved D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses. Although, PCI’s portal permitted the Petitioner to apply for extension of the existing courses, it did not permit the Petitioner for the M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses, as at that stage approval was pending for the academic session 2025-26 at the end of PCI, however, now that Petitioner has successfully obtained the said approval, it should not be deprived of the benefits of the fruits of the earlier litigation. In this background, it is urged that direction be issued to PCI to activate the portal in respect of M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses and enable the Petitioner to submit the application for academic session 2026-27 in respect of M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses.

¶34

Counsel for PCI submits that while it is alive to the fact that Petitioner has succeeded in the earlier round of litigation and approval has been granted for the academic session 2025-26 only on 05.11.2025, however, there is no provision whereby PCI can activate the portal at this stage and

¶35

W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶36

Page 4 of 5

¶37

This is a digitally signed order.

¶38

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/11/2025 at 13:12:15

¶39

edit the earlier application.

¶40

Having heard learned counsels for the parties, I am of the view that Petitioner cannot be faulted for delay in grant of approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2025-26. Petitioner was illegally denied the approval and had to approach this Court in W.P.(C) 13928/2025, which was allowed in its favour directing PCI to process the application. On a contempt petition being filed by the Petitioner, it was granted approval vide communication dated 05.11.2025 for the academic session 2025-26. In the meantime, since the last date of 31.10.2025 was approaching for applying for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27 but since no approval was forthcoming for the previous academic session, Petitioner applied for approval of D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses. Petitioner’s counsel is right in his submission that in the absence for approval for academic session 2025-26, Petitioner could not apply for the academic session 2026-27 and it was only after 05.11.2025 that it was eligible to apply. Denying the Petitioner to apply for approval of M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27 would amount to defeating the rights of the Petitioner as also taking away the benefits of the earlier litigation.

¶41

It is accordingly directed that PCI shall take necessary steps to ensure that Petitioner is able to submit its application for extension of approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27 forthwith. 12. Writ petition is allowed and disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

¶42

JYOTI SINGH, J

¶43

NOVEMBER 14, 2025/YA

¶44

W.P.(C) 17293/2025

¶45

Page 5 of 5

¶46

This is a digitally signed order.

¶47

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 17/11/2025 at 13:12:15

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
PCI's inaction/refusal to activate the portal tab so as to permit the Petitioner to submit its application for extension of approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2026-27, despite repeated representations and an undertaking affidavit; PCI contended there was no provision to activate the portal at that stage.¶27
Pharmacy Council of India (online application portal)
Prior proceeding
PCI granted the Petitioner institute approval on 10.06.2019 for first year B. Pharm (100 admissions) and first year D. Pharm (60 admissions) for academic session 2019-20.¶14
Prior proceeding
By letter dated 22.08.2024, PCI communicated extension for the two existing courses.¶14
Prior proceeding
Vide circular dated 17.12.2024, PCI invited applications for extension of approvals, fresh approvals and new institutions, mandating Consent of Affiliation from Affiliating Universities.¶15
Prior proceeding
In January 2025 the Petitioner submitted its Standard Inspection Format (SIF) for extension of approval of its existing courses (and, per the narrative, approval for new M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for 2025-26).¶15
Prior proceeding
On 29.03.2025 the Affiliating University wrote to PCI that there was no provision in the University Act/Regulation to give prior NOC/Consent of Affiliation.¶20
Prior proceeding
On 28.08.2025 PCI extended approval of the existing D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses but rejected fresh approval of the new M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for want of NOC/Consent of Affiliation.¶20
Prior proceeding
Petitioner filed W.P.(C) 13928/2025, which was allowed vide order dated 19.09.2025 directing PCI to treat the University's counter affidavit as its consent and process the Petitioner's application for 2025-26.¶21
Prior proceeding
Petitioner filed contempt petition CONT.CAS (C) 1498/2025 seeking compliance of the order dated 19.09.2025; listed on 31.10.2025 when PCI's counsel gave an assurance, and re-notified for 06.11.2025.¶21
Prior proceeding
On 31.10.2025, on PCI's application MA. No. 1987/2025 in C.A. No. 9048/2012, the Court extended the last date for considering cases of grant of approval upto 15.11.2025.¶22
Prior proceeding
PCI issued letter dated 05.11.2025 granting extension of approval for D. Pharm and B. Pharm courses and fresh approval for M. Pharm and Pharm D. courses for academic session 2025-26.¶22
Prior proceeding
On 03.10.2025 PCI had invited applications from new/existing institutions for approval/extension of approval for academic session 2026-27.¶22
Prior proceeding
Applications for academic session 2026-27 were required to be submitted on or before 31.10.2025.¶27
Prior proceeding
After receipt of the 05.11.2025 approval, the Petitioner attempted to apply for extension for 2026-27 but could not upload the application; PCI took no action on its grievance despite further requests on 08.11.2025 and an undertaking affidavit.¶27
Prior proceeding
On 10.11.2025 PCI extended the last date for submission of applications for extension of approval upto 15.11.2025.¶27
Prior proceeding
On 13.11.2025 the Petitioner made a representation to be permitted to upload the application; getting no response, it filed the present writ petition.¶27

Jyotiraditya Institute of Pharmacy v. Pharmacy Council of India

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Jyotiraditya Institute of Pharmacy v. Pharmacy Council of India

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

S S Bhankers Assocation and Anr. Vs Union of India and Ors.

Union of India & Ors. Vs Wg Cdr Srinivasan Ramanathan (Retd)

Sanjay Kumar Pathak & Anr. Vs Union of India & Ors.

Ramu Vs Staff Selection Commission and Anr.

P.C.Sharma Vs UOI & Ors.

Jawahar Lal Vs New Delhi Municipal Council & Ors.

M/S Anant Sharma Vs Union of India & Anr.

Force NO.0583941 Satbir Vs Union of India and Ors.

Umang Singh Vs Union of India & Ors.

Lakshmi Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors.

Manish Kumar Gupta Vs Govt of NCT of Delhi through Chief Secretary & Ors.

Tanishka Gupta Vs National Testing Agency & Ors.

Anindita Dasgupta Vs Reserve Bank of India & Ors.

Ambika Institute of Pharmacy Vs Pharmacy Council of India