INDIAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION Vs. STATE OF TRIPURA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CAN a State Government prescribe qualifications for registration of any person as a pharmacist? Whether the qualifications prescribed by the Gazette Notification, dated 18. 01. 96, issued by the Government of Tripura, Department of Health and Family Welfare, are sustainable? Can the registration of pharmacists, made pursuant to the order, dated 24. 7. 96, issued by the Registrar, Tripura State Pharmacist Council, be allowed to survive? These are the three prominent questions, which have been raised in the present writ petition.

(2.) HEARD Mr. S. Talapatra, learned Senior counsel, appearing on behalf of the petitioners and Mr. N. Adhikary, learned Advocate General, Tripura.

(3.) IN order to appreciate the controversy raised in the present writ petition, a careful analysis of the relevant provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 (in short, 'the Pharmacy Act') is imperative. With this end in view, let me, point out, the object and the scheme of the Pharmacy Act.