Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 15 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Parshavanath Charitable Trust (Appellant) vs. All India Council for Technical Education & Ors. (Respondent) with Pharmacy Council of India (Applicant).
  • Background: The Supreme Court, in its judgment dated 13 December 2012 (Civil Appeal No. 9048 of 2012, Parshavanath Charitable Trust vs. AICTE, 2013 3 SCC 385), fixed a schedule for technical education approvals, mandating that the last date for granting or refusing approval be no later than 10 April of the relevant year and that appeals be filed by 30 April. The Court has historically extended these deadlines for successive academic years up to 2025‑26.
  • Prior Extensions: The Court previously extended the schedule for the academic session 2025‑26 on 08 September 2025 (MA No. 1409 of 2025). An order dated 06 February 2026 (MA No. 220 of 2026) further extended the last date for filing the Standard Inspection Form (SIF) to 27 February 2026 for existing institutes.
  • Affidavit: On 03 July 2026, the Deputy Secretary of the Pharmacy Council of India filed an affidavit confirming that no further extension would be sought beyond the present application and outlining logistical constraints (delayed SIF submissions, inspector unavailability, limited manpower, and large volume of applications).
  • Requested Extension: The Pharmacy Council sought a revised schedule for the academic session 2026‑27, proposing new dates such as EC decision communication by 31 August 2026 (instead of 31 May) and the last date for granting or refusing approval by 15 September 2026 (instead of 15 June). The application also included a commitment that no further extensions would be pursued for this session.
  • Court Proceedings: Learned Solicitor General Mr. Tushar Mehta and learned ASG Mr. Anil Kaushik appeared for the applicants. The Court heard counsel, including senior counsel Mr. Sanjay Sharawat for private applicants/colleges.

Final Outcome

  • The Court allowed Miscellaneous Application No. 1976 of 2026, extending the schedule to 31 August 2026 and directing that the entire approval process be completed on or before 30 October 2026.
  • The Pharmacy Council of India, represented by its President Dr. Montukumar M. Patel, gave an undertaking to adhere strictly to the extended schedule and not seek any further extension for the 2026‑27 academic session.
  • The Court directed that all State governments and affiliating universities must comply with the extended timeline.
  • All pending applications, including impleadment applications, were ordered disposed of.

Topics: Court Order; Higher Education Regulation; Pharmacy Council Schedule Extension