In Brief
Two pharmacy colleges challenged a university's refusal to grant conditional affiliation for the 2020-21 academic year, claiming the university wrongfully applied expired AICTE timelines. The State Government had granted conditional affiliation after an Affiliation Committee's recommendation, and the Pharmacy Council of India had approved both colleges. The High Court had earlier allowed similar petitions challenging the State's initial denial. The Supreme Court held that in pharmacy education, the Pharmacy Act 1948 and PCI norms prevail over AICTE deadlines. Since the PCI had approved the colleges and the State had granted conditional affiliation, the university must grant affiliation and permit students to participate in examinations. Both petitions were allowed.
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