Saraswati Institute Of Pharmacy & Anr. vs. Pharmacy Council Of INDIA
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The petitioner, Saraswati Institute of Pharmacy, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus to allow them to submit a processing fee of Rs. 1,18,000/- for the extension of approval of their D.Pharm course for the academic session 2025-26. The petitioner had applied for this extension, but the respondent's (Pharmacy Council of India - PCI) portal reflected a payment of Rs. 3,54,000/-. The petitioner contended that this higher amount was applicable to new institutions, while the fee for extension of approval was Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST, totaling Rs. 1,18,000/-. The respondent, through its counsel, fairly conceded that the fee for extension of approval was indeed Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST.
Held
The Court held that the correct processing fee for the extension of approval of the D.Pharm course for the academic session 2025-2026 is Rs. 1,18,000/-. The reasoning was based on the concession made by the respondent's counsel, who admitted that the prescribed fee for extension of approval is Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST. The Court directed the respondent/PCI to allow the petitioners to deposit this amount. To ensure compliance, the respondent/PCI was further directed to correct its portal within one day and share the payment link with the petitioner within two days thereafter. The respondent/PCI was also directed to consider the petitioner's application for extension of approval on or before September 30, 2025, after the payment is deposited. No issue was expressly left undecided.
Key Issues
1. Whether the correct processing fee for the extension of approval of the D.Pharm course for the academic session 2025-26 is Rs. 1,18,000/- (Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST) as contended by the petitioner, or Rs. 3,54,000/- as initially reflected on the respondent's portal? This issue turns on the interpretation of the applicable fee structure for course approval extensions. Contentions: Petitioner: Argued that the fee for extension of approval is Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST, totaling Rs. 1,18,000/-, and the higher amount reflected on the portal is applicable only to new institutions. Revenue/State (Respondent - PCI): Fairly stated that the fee for extension of approval is Rs. 1 lakh plus 18% GST.
Sections Cited
None discussed
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Cause title — parties, addresses and appearances
O R D E R %
2025
The present petition has been filed seeking the following reliefs:- “(a) issue a writ of mandamus or any other suitable writ or order or direction to respondent to allow the petitioner to submit processing fee of Rs.1,18,000/- either by way of demand draft or through online portal with consequential direction to accept the same and process petitioner's application for extension of approval of D.Pharm course for academic session 2025-26 in a time bound manner.”
The case set out by the petitioner in the present petition is that the petitioner had applied for extension of approval of its D.Pharm course, however, on the portal of the respondent, it has been found that payment of Rs. 3,54,000/- is being reflected for such extension.
Mr. Amitesh Kumar, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the This is a digitally signed order. 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 18/09/2025 at 12:31:57
petitioner submits that payment of Rs. 3,54,000/- is applicable to new institutions, whereas for the purpose of extension of approval, the fee prescribed is Rs. 1 lakh plus GST @ 18%. Thus, according to him, the total amount payable in case of extension of approval is Rs. 1,18,000/-.
Mr. Ajay Kumar Singh, learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent/PCI on being queried by the Court, fairly states that fee in case of extension of approval is Rs. 1 lakh plus GST @ 18%.
Having regard to the submission of the learned counsels for the parties, the petition is disposed of with the direction to the respondent /PCI to allow the petitioners to deposit an amount of Rs. 1,18,000/- for the purpose of seeking an extension of approval of its D.Pharm course for the Academic Session 2025-2026. To ensure compliance of this direction, the respondent/PCI is further directed to make correction on its portal within a day and to share the link of payment with the petitioner within two days thereafter.
The petition along with the pending application stands disposed of with the aforesaid direction.
Needless to state that after the deposit of payment by the petitioners, the respondent/PCI will consider the petitioners’ application for extension of approval on or before 30.09.2025 under the heading of ‘Appeal cum Compliances’.
VIKAS MAHAJAN, J SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 SU This is a digitally signed order. 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 18/09/2025 at 12:31:57
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