GSPC awaits action from PCI in cases of illegal conduct of D Pharm courses in 3 colleges of Punjab, Rajasthan

The Gujarat State Pharmacy Council (GSPC) is awaiting a response and proper action from the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) in cases related to violation of norms of UGC, AICTE and the PCI in conducting of the D Pharm courses by Malwa College of Pharmacy, Bathinda, Punjab; Sun Rise College of Pharmacy, Alwar, Rajasthan; and Pacific of Pharmacy College & Pacific Institute of Pharmacy, Udaipur, Rajasthan.

As per GSPC submission to the PCI, the cases of violation were independently scrutinised and verified by the GSPC and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the past one year but an apt response is still awaited despite finding serious flaws in awarding certificates to the candidates and the preceding admission process.



On the contrary, PCI has blamed the GSPC for contravening the relevant sections of the Pharmacy Act by initiating the inquiry, doing inspections and verifications, according to the officials of GSPC.

On the basis of the inquiry, it was revealed that 82 D Pharm students who passed out from these colleges during 2015-2017 had applied for registration as pharmacists in GSPC as per Pharmacy Act, 1948.

During the scrutiny of the 82 applications, GSPC observed some unusual and suspicious process being followed. So GSPC carried out physical verification of records of the three colleges by an expert sub-committee on 31 July 2018, August 2, 2018 and August 3, 2018.

After physical verification, the sub-committee had submitted 3 separate detailed reports to GSPC on August 4, 2018. Subsequent to which GSPC reported the matter to the PCI for necessary action.

Rues Montu Patel, president, GSPC, “After almost a year of proper verification, inspection and scrutiny by the CID and the expert committee of GSPC, PCI has blamed GSPC for conducting the inspection and verification in contravention to the law of the land. We have done our duty of alerting the PCI on the matter. Now PCI has to take action in view of the facts presented to them.”

As per the PCI letter to the GSPC, GSPC is inspecting the pharmacy institutions in total contravention of the provisions of the Pharmacy Act- 1948. It has stated that GSPC has no authority to inspect pharmacy institutions and hence inspection of pharmacy institutions by the council is in total contravention of the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The GSPC shall restrict its activities within the mandate of the law that is registration of the pharmacists in order to maintain the sanctity of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

GSPC in its finding revealed that the team led by Dr K R Vadalia physically verified the records of Malwa College of Pharmacy, Bathinda on 31st July 2018 regarding admissions in 2015, teaching and examination records for period 2015 to 2017.

From the report submitted by the inspection team, it was revealed that on the day of visit, no academic activity was observed, local addresses of students stay during study period who have applied for registration in GSPC after passing D Pharm in 2017 were not available with the college.

In attendance register of theory and practical classes of year 2015-16 for First Year D Pharm and of 2016-17 for Second Year D Pharm seemed fabricated. In the register topic taught were not mentioned, also attendance was not certified by the subject teachers, among other serious flaws.

On verification of the attendance records of the student's presence in exam hall in Internal exam for 2015-16 and 2016-17, date of exam, signature of supervisor and certification by principal was also missing. College did not have marks list of internal exams certified by subject teacher. Instead, it showed summary of examination board results on web site of the exam board with internal and external marks for First Year D Pharm 2015 and Second Year D Pharm 2017.

Principal could not provide proof of practical performed by the listed students and attendance register of practical was also fabricated. CCTV footage of university examination was also not available with the colleges.


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