Editor’s Note
This article clarifies a recent court ruling that defines the specific educational credential required for pharmacist recruitment in Uttarakhand, India.
The Uttarakhand High Court has ruled that only a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharma) is considered a valid educational qualification for recruitment to pharmacist positions in the state. The court clarified that candidates holding a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma) degree are not eligible to apply for these posts under the current service rules.
The case was heard by a single bench of Justice Ravindra Maithani. Petitioners, including Om Prakash, Vinod Kumar, and Pankaj Mohan Dhyani, along with other B.Pharma degree holders, had filed petitions arguing that they possess higher qualifications and should therefore be given the opportunity to apply for pharmacist positions.
The court stated that determining qualifications for recruitment is a matter of policy. Until the service rules are amended, only candidates with a D.Pharma and registration with the State Pharmacy Council will be eligible. The court dismissed the petitions, stating that B.Pharma degree holders can only benefit if the rules are amended in the future.
In a separate but related matter, the Uttarakhand High Court provided significant relief to candidates in the Nursing Officer recruitment process. The court ordered that for determining the age limit of petitioners under the advertisement issued on March 11, 2024, the base date should be July 1, 2020, not July 1, 2023.
The court held that when candidates applied based on advertisements issued in 2020, their age limit should be considered protected on that basis. Following the decision, the Uttarakhand Medical Service Selection Board has been directed to declare the results of all petitioners who participated in the recruitment exam. This decision is expected to set a precedent for other candidates in similar situations in the future.