In the wake of Guwahati High Court directing the state government to cancel registrations of unqualified pharmacists in the state, the Assam Pharmacy Council (APC) is in the process of scrutinising 1500 documents related to a fake registration racket involving 2900 pharmacists in the state. These pharmacists were earlier registered with the Registration Tribunals of Nagaland and Manipur.

Based on the High Court directive, APC had earlier served notices to the registered pharmacists from across the state for submission of documents to authenticate their registration details and academic credentials. As per official records, APC today has 9000 registrations of which 2500 pharmacists are working in the government sector alone. Informs Munindra Deka, registrar, APC, "After scrutinising documents related to the fake registration racket, the state government would be consulted on the matter to take appropriate action for curbing the malpractices. Drug licences will also be cancelled subsequent to cancelling of the registrations."

As per the report of the verification committee formed by the state government for the pharmacists registered under section 32(b), APC can recommend the cancellation of registrations under section 36(1)(i)(2) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

Guwahati High Court passed the order to verify authenticity of the records of 2900 pharmacists related to fake cases of registrations. APC is now stringently verifying new registrations and renewals taking into account the fact that a big percentage of around 20,000 retail drug stores in Assam are run by unqualified people.

The growing cases of fake registrations, explains an official, is the outcome of the misuse of powers by the registration tribunals which were actually constituted to bifurcate the register of pharmacists for administrative purpose as provisioned under the law.

As per section 30 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, 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.

The Registrar shall amend the register in accordance with the decisions of the authority appointed under sub section (4) of section 30 and shall thereupon issue to every person whose name is entered in the register a certificate of registration in the prescribed form.