Thursday, January 19, 2017

Qualified Pharmacists Must in Medical Shops: Kerala HC [Read Judgment]

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                            PRESENT:

                         THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHAJI P.CHALY

        THURSDAY, THE 1ST DAY OF DECEMBER 2016/10TH AGRAHAYANA, 1938

                                   WP(C).No. 11396 of 2016 (Y)
                                      ----------------------------


PETITIONER(S):
-----------------------

                     KERALA PHARMACISTS ORGANIZATION,
                    REG. NO.WYD/CA/17/2016,
                    REG. OFFICE ARPITHA, CHOLAVAYAL,
                    KALPETTA -673 121, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
                    PREMJI M.P


                     BY ADV. SRI.BIJU .C. ABRAHAM.

RESPONDENT(S):
-------------------------

        1.           THE STATE OF KERALA,
                     REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARYTO GOVERNMENT,
                     DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE,
                     GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
                     THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001.

        2.           THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES,
                     THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -695 001.

        3.           THE DRUGS CONTROLLER,
                     OFFICE OF THE DRUGS CONTROLLER,
                     THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001.

        4.           THE REGISTRAR,
                     KERALA STATE PHARMACY COUNCIL,
                     THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695 001.


                     R1 TO R3 BY SR. GOVT. PLEADER SMT.K.R. DEEPA.
                     R4 BY ADV. SRI.P.B.SAHASRANAMAN, SC.


                    THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
                    ON 01-12-2016, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
                    FOLLOWING:
rs.

WP(C).No. 11396 of 2016 (Y)

                                APPENDIX

PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:-


EXT.P1:     TRUE COPY OF THE PRESCRIBED FORM OF DECLARATION OF
            REGISTERED PHARMACIST TO BE SUBMITTED FOR RENEWAL
            OF DRUGS LICENSE.

EXT.P2:     TRUE COPY OF THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE PHARMACY ACT
            1948 AND THE RELEVANT RULES AND GUIDELINES.

EXT.P3:     TRUE COPY OF THE CIRCULAR DATED 20/10/2015 ISSUED BY
            THE 1ST RESPONDENT.

EXT.P4:     TRUE COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORT APPEARED IN
            MATHRUBHOOMI DAILY DATED 08/02/2016.

EXT.P5      TRUE COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORT IN JENMABHOOMI
            DATED 28/02/2016.

EXT.P5(A)   TRUE COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORT IN MATHRUBHOOMI
            DATED 10/02/2016.

EXT.P5(B)   TRUE COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORT DATED 28/02/2016.


RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS:-       NIL.




                                              //TRUE COPY//


                                              P.S.TO JUDGE


rs.



                    SHAJI P. CHALY, J.
               -------------------------------
               W.P.(C)No. 11396 of 2016
               -------------------------------
      Dated this the 1st day of December, 2016

                       J U D G M E N T
                      -------------------

     Petitioner    is    a   registered   organisation    of

Pharmacists. The grievance voiced by the petitioner in

this writ petition is that, in violation of the provision of

the Pharmacy Act, 1948, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940

and the Rules 1945, Pharmacy Practice Regulations 2015,

and the law regulating the working hours of the

Pharmacist etc. are being flouted.        According to the

petitioner, the dispensation of medicine is done in the

absence of pharmacist qualified as per the provisions of

the aforesaid acts, and the Government is not taking any

steps to ensure that the illegalities committed by various

medicine dispensation units in private and public sector

are being done in accordance with the provisions of the

Act and Rules specified above. These are the background

facts of this writ petition.

     2.   Fourth respondent has filed a counter affidavit

W.P.(C)No. 11396 of 2016    2


stating that, the Kerala State Pharmacy Council is

established under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 with the main

objective of the Council to regulate the profession and

practice of pharmacy in Kerala. Based on that council is

giving registration as a registered pharmacist to those

qualified persons under Section 32(2) of the said Act. The

council has also appointed Pharmacy Inspectors in all

districts for the strict implementation of the pharmacy

Act, Rules, Pharmacy Practice Regulations, 2015.      It is

also stated that Pharmacy Inspectors are regularly

inspecting the medical stores which are storing medicines

and dispensing the same.         The Pharmacy Practice

Regulations, 2015 was notified in the Gazette of India on

15.01.2015 and on the basis of which Ext.P3 Circular has

been issued. It is also submitted that medical shops are

to comply with the Rules and Regulations in vogue. It is

also stated all the medicine dispensing units of the State

Government also is to absolutely follow the provisions of

law and Regulations, 2015.

       3.    Third respondent has also filed a Counter

W.P.(C)No. 11396 of 2016     3


affidavit almost in similar lines, and the contentions raised

in the counter affidavit need not be repeated because 3rd

respondent is also of the opinion that without a

pharmacist dispensation of medicines cannot be carried

out either in the private sector or in the public sector.

       4.    Taking note of the respective submissions made

across the bar and perusal of the documents and

pleadings put forth by the respective parties, I am of the

considered opinion that, the medical shops in private

sector as well as in public sector and all medicine

dispensing units in the private sector and public sector

are bound to follow the provisions of respective Acts and

Rules and Regulations, 2015. That being the situation,

there will be a direction to the respondents to ensure

that, the medicines are dispensed by the said units

absolutely following the provisions and regulations and

employing qualified pharmacist in the said units. If any

violation is committed by any medical shops or other

dispensing unit severe action shall be taken against the

said persons without fail. Respondents shall also ensure

W.P.(C)No. 11396 of 2016      4


that working hours provided under the rules and

regulations are also strictly implemented.

       Writ petition is disposed of accordingly.

                                               Sd/-
                                        SHAJI P. CHALY,
                                             JUDGE.

rmm/2/12/2016




                                 [ True copy]

                                 P.A. to Judge




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