Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Law on Tips
(LOTS)
India's Premier Legal News
⌘K
Submit News
Login
Subscribe
Home
The Bar Room
The Gazette
The Library
Legal League
Columns
Interviews
⚖
Loading…
Bar
News
Acts
League
Login
The Pharmacy Act, 1948
Act ID: 1948
The Pharmacy Act, 1948
"An Act to regulate the profession of pharmacy."
Table of Contents
46 Sections
Ch. IIn
troductory
S.1
Short title, extent and commencement .-(1) This Act may be called The Pharmacy Act, 1948
S.2
Interpretation .-In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
Ch. IIT
he Pharmacy Council Of India
S.3
Constitution and composition of Central Council .-The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, constitute a Central Council consisting of the following members, namely:
S.4
Constitution of Pharmacy Council of India
S.5
President and Vice-President of Central Council .-(1) The President and Vice-President of the Central Council shall be elected by the members of the said Council from among themselves:
S.6
Term of office of members
S.7
Term of office and casual vacancies .-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a nominated or elected member, [* * *] shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his nomination or election or until his successor has been duly nominated or elected, whichever is longer
S.8
[ Staff, remuneration and allowances
S.9
The Executive Committee .-(1) The Central Council shall, as soon as may be, constitute an Executive Committee consisting of the President (who shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee) and Vice-President, ex officio , and five other members elected by the Central Council from amongst its members
S.10
Education Regulations .-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Central Council may, subject to the approval of the Central Government, make regulations, to be called the Education Regulations, prescribing the minimum standard of education required for qualification as a pharmacist
S.11
Application of Education Regulations to States .-At any time after the constitution of the State Council under Chapter III and after consultation with the State Council, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the Education Regulations shall take effect in the State:
S.12
Approved courses of study and examinations .-(1) Any authority in a State [* * *] which conducts a course of study for pharmacists may apply to the Central Council for approval of the course, and the Central Council, if satisfied, after such enquiry as it thinks fit to make, that the said course of study is in conformity with the Education Regulations, shall declare the said course of study to be an approved course of study for the purpose of admission to an approved examination for pharmacists
S.13
Withdrawal of approval .-(1) Where the Executive Committee reports to the Central Council that an approved course of study or an approved examination does not continue to be in conformity with the Education Regulations, the Central Council shall give notice to the authority concerned of its intention to take into consideration the question of withdrawing the declaration of approval accorded to the course of study or examination, as the case may be, and the said authority shall within three months from the receipt of such notice forward to the Central Council through the State Government such representation in the matter as it may wish to make
S.14
Qualifications granted outside the territories to which this Act extends .-The Central Council, if it is satisfied that any qualification in pharmacy granted by an authority outside the [territories to which this Act extends] affords a sufficient guarantee of the requisite skill and knowledge, may declare such qualification to be an approved qualification for the purpose of qualifying for registration under this Act, and may for reasons appearing to it sufficient at any time declare that such qualification shall be deemed [subject to such additional conditions, if any, as may be specified by the Central Council,] [ Inserted by Act 70 of 1976, Section 8 (w.e.f. 1.9.1976).] to be approved only when granted before or after a specified date:
S.15
Mode of declarations .-All declarations under section 12, section 13 or section 14 shall be made by resolution passed at a meeting of the Central Council and shall have effect as soon as they are published in the Official Gazette
S.16
Inspection .-(1) The Executive Committee may appoint such number of Inspectors as it may deem requisite for the purposes of this Chapter
S.17
Information to be furnished .-(1) The Central Council shall furnish copies of its minutes and of the minutes of the Executive Committee and an annual report of its activities [* * *] to the Central Government
S.18
Power to make regulations .-(1) The Central Council may, with the approval of the Central Government, [by notification in the Official Gazette,] make regulations consistent with this Act to carry out the purposes of this Chapter
S.22
Qualifications for entry in register
S.24
Registration
S.35
Removal from register
S.38
Penalties
S.39
Offences by companies
S.44
Power to make rules
Ch. IIIS
tate Pharmacy Councils
S.19
Constitution and composition of State Councils .-Except where a Joint State Council is constituted in accordance with an agreement made under section 20, the State Government shall constitute a State Council consisting of the following members, namely:
S.20
Inter-State agreements .-(1) Two or more State Governments may enter into an agreement to be in force for such period and to be subject to renewal for such further periods, if any, as may be specified in the agreement, to provide
S.21
Composition of Joint State Councils .-(1) A Joint State Council shall consist of the following members, namely:
S.23
President and Vice-President of State Council .-(1) The President and Vice-President of the State Council shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves:
S.25
Term of office and casual vacancies .-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a nominated or elected member, other than nominated President, shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his nomination or election or until his successor has been duly nominated or elected, whichever is longer
S.26
Staff, remuneration and allowances .-The State Council may, with the previous sanction of the State Government,
S.27
The Executive Committee .-(1) The State Council shall, as soon as may be, constitute an Executive Committee consisting of the President (who shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee) and Vice-President, ex officio , and such number of other members elected by the State Council from amongst themselves as may be prescribed
S.28
Information to be furnished .-(1) The State Council shall furnish such reports, copies of its minutes and of the minutes of the Executive Committee, and abstracts of its accounts to the State Government as the State Government may from time to time require and copies thereof shall be sent to the Central Council
Ch. IVR
egistration Of Pharmacists
S.29
Preparation and maintenance of register .-(1) As soon as may be after this Chapter has taken effect in any State, the State Government shall cause to be prepared in the manner hereinafter provided a register of pharmacists for the State
S.30
Preparation of first register .-(1) For the purpose of preparing the first register, the State Government shall by notification in the Official Gazette constitute a Registration Tribunal consisting of three persons, and shall also appoint a Registrar who shall act as Secretary of the Registration Tribunal
S.31
Qualifications for entry on first register .- [A person who has attained the age of eighteen years shall be entitled] on payment of the prescribed fee to have his name entered in the first register if he resides, or carries on the business or profession of pharmacy, in the State and if he
S.32
Qualifications for subsequent registration .-(1) After the date appointed under sub-section (2) of section 30 and before the Education Regulations have, by or under section 11, taken effect in the State, [a person who has attained the age of eighteen years shall on payment of the prescribed fee] be entitled to have his name entered in the register if he resides or carries on the business or profession of pharmacy in the State and if he
S.33
Scrutiny of applications for registration .-(1) After the date appointed under sub-section (2) of section 30, applications for registration shall be addressed to the Registrar of the State Council and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee
S.34
Renewal fees .-(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that for the retention of a name on the register after the 31st day of December of the year following the year in which the name is first entered on the register, there shall be paid annually to the State Council such renewal fee as may be prescribed, and where such direction has been made, such renewal fee shall be due to be paid before the first day of April of the year to which it relates
S.36
Removal from register .-(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Executive Committee may order that the name of a registered pharmacist shall be removed from the register, where it is satisfied, after giving him a reasonable opportunity of being heard and after such further inquiry, if any, as it may think fit to make,
S.37
Restoration to register .-The State Council may at any time for reasons appearing to it sufficient order that upon payment of the prescribed fee the name of a person removed from the register shall be restored thereto:
S.40
[ Printing of register and evidentiary value of entries therein
Ch. VMis
cellaneous
S.41
Penalty for falsely claiming to be registered .-(1) If any person whose name is not for the time being entered into the register of the State falsely pretends that it is so entered or uses in connection with his name or title any words or letters reasonably calculated to suggest that his name is so entered, he shall be punishable on first conviction with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment extending to six months or with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or with both:
S.42
Dispensing by unregistered persons .-(1) On or after such date as the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette appoint in this behalf, no person other than a registered pharmacist shall compound, prepare, mix, or dispense any medicine on the prescription of a medical practitioner [* * *]:
S.43
Failure to surrender certificate of registration .-(1) If any person whose name has been removed from the register fails without sufficient cause forthwith to surrender his certificate of registration, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees
S.45
Appointment of Commission of Enquiry .-(1) Whenever it appears to the Central Government that the Central Council is not complying with any of the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may appoint a Commission of Enquiry consisting of three persons, two of whom shall be appointed by the Central Government, one being the Judge of a High Court, and one by the Council; and refer to it the matters on which the enquiry is to be made
S.46
Power to make rules .-(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make [rules] to carry out the purposes of Chapters III, IV and V