Supreme Court Upholds Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules: Diploma Requirement Stands Firm

The Supreme Court has upheld the Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules, 2014, confirming a 'diploma in pharmacy' as the minimum qualification for pharmacist posts. A plea by higher degree holders was dismissed, with the court ruling the state's criteria as non-arbitrary, emphasizing pharmacists' critical role in public health.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional validity of the Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules, 2014, supporting the state's decision to mandate a 'diploma in pharmacy' as the minimum qualification for pharmacist recruitment. This verdict arrived after Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma rejected a challenge by BPharma and MPharma holders, who found their exclusion unjust.

The court emphasized that setting an eligibility criterion of 10+2 with a pharmacy diploma is neither arbitrary nor irrational. The state explained that the course structure and limited employment opportunities for diploma holders justified the requirement. Therefore, the decision to favor diploma candidates is considered reasonable given the goals.

Furthermore, the ruling illustrates that the scope of judicial review over public employment requirements is limited, disallowing challenges to the state's policy discretion on eligibility criteria. Emphasizing the crucial role of pharmacists in public health, the court underscored their responsibilities in managing medicines and patient care within public institutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)