The Principal v. Shri. Anil Mittal

ORDER This Contempt Petition is filed complaining wilful disobedience of the order dated 23.02.2026 made in W.P.No.5363 of 2026.

¶2The petitioner Institution made applications for starting Pharm.D and Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) courses for the academic year 2026 - 2027. The same was rejected on the ground that it was beyond time and hence, the above Writ Petition was filed. After considering the urgency and hearing the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf the respondents, on the basis of the instructions given to them, this Court found that since the application for Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) should be considered only after the Pharm.D program is considered, directed that the Pharm.D alone be considered first and thereafter, the application for Pharm.D (Post Baccalaureate) can be taken up later.

¶3For Pharm.D program, the objection made by the respondents during the hearing of the writ petition is that the petitioner is not an existing Institution in as much as it was having only D.Pharm, B.Pharm courses, etc. As far as Pharm.D is concerned, it is newly prayed for. I specifically overruled the said objection stating that even if the courses are in the erstwhile regime namely, B.Pharm, D.Pharm etc., the petitioner shall be treated only as an existing Institution and cannot be termed as a new Institution. Further, the respondents Page3 of 6 were directed to consider the application positively for the academic year 2026-2027 itself, by placing reliance on the submission made that the Honourable Supreme Court of India had extended time in respect of the existing Institutions till 27.02.2026 and since the application is made well before that date. However, once again the same is now rejected and hence, the Contempt Petition is filed.

¶4It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the respondents are no authorities to sit over the judgment of this Court and pass an order in violation of the directions.

¶5Per Contra, the learned counsel appearing on behalf the respondents would bring the specific notice of this Court as to the order of the Honourable Supreme Court of India that extended the time. The relevant portion of the Order of the Honourable Supreme Court of India dated 06.02.2026 contained in paragraph 3 is reproduced here under: "3. After having heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner(s) and respondent(s) at length, in modification of this Court's order dated 08.09.2025 passed in M.A.No. 1409 of 2025 in Civil Appeal No. 9048 of 2012, we pass the following directions:- "permission for opening of portal of Pharmacy Council of India for filing the SIF qua list of existing colleges is extended for three weeks from today for the academic session 2026-2027." (emphasis supplied) Page4 of 6

¶6Thus, it can be seen that the Honourable Supreme Court had extended the time for filing Standard Inspection Form (SIF), not for all the existing colleges but, "qua list of existing colleges". Thus, it can be seen that the extension of time is restricted to the list of existing colleges contained therein in the application.

¶7Therefore, I am of the view that the impugned order that is passed, rejecting the application of the petitioner for the academic year 2026-2027 and ordering to consider the same for the next academic year per se, cannot be termed as willful disobedience. As a matter of fact, it could have been appropriate for the respondent authority to have filed such clarification petition before this Court. In any event, this Court once finds that the respondents have acted strictly in accordance with the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and had not passed the order with any other ulterior motives, I hold that the same would not amount to any willful disobedience leading to contempt.

¶8The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that even subsequently also a miscellaneous application has been filed before the Honourable Supreme Court of India in Miscellaneous Application No.1976 of 2026 and it can be seen that extension of time is prayed and the same is the regular procedure that is adopted by the respondents. If any other Institution similarly situated as that of the petitioner is extended the benefits or if the Page5 of 6 Honourable Supreme Court of India observes that the time is extended with reference to all existing Institutions, then it will be open for the petitioner to make a representation and to take such steps in the manner known to law.

¶9With the aforesaid observations, the Contempt Petition stands closed. 13-07-2026 KKN To Shri. Anil Mittal Secretary cum Registrar, The Pharmacy Council of India, NBCC Centre, 3rd Floor, Plot No.2, Community Centre, Maa Anandamai Marg, Okhla Phase I, New Delhi-110 020. CONToPoNo.o1741oofo2026 D.BHARATHAoCHAKRAVARTHY,oJ. KKN CONToPoNo.o1741oofo2026 13-07-2026 Page6oofo6

Page1 of 6 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 13-07-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY Cont P No. 1741 of 2026 The Principal, RVS Padmavathi Ammal College of Pharmacy, Kumaran Kottam, Trichy Road, Kannampalayam, Sulur, Coimbatore-641 402. ..Petitioner(s) Vs Shri. Anil Mittal Secretary cum Registrar, The Pharmacy Council of India, NBCC Centre, 3rd Floor, Plot No.2, Community Centre, Maa Anandamai Marg, Okhla Phase I, New Delhi-110 020. ..Contemnor(s) Prayer: Contempt Petition filed under Section 11 of the Courts Act, 1971, to punish the respondent herein for his willful and deliberate disobedience and defiance of the Orders of this Hon'ble Court dated 23.02.2026 in Writ Petition No. 5363 of 2026. For Petitioner(s): Mr.P.Godson Swaminathan for Ms.H.Mary Sowmi Rexi For Contemnor(s): Mr.P.Rlayaraj Kumar Page2 of 6