Irked over the rejection of his application for becoming a member of the national council of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Kerala State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) president KC Ajith Kumar has alleged that the PCI president is deliberately blocking his entry into the national council of PCI.

In an interview with Pharmabiz, Ajith Kumar said that because of PCI president Dr B Suresh's discriminatory attitude, Kerala is not represented in the PCI. He said that KSPC had nominated his name in 2008 after K V Varadarajan’s resignation (in 2007) as member to the national council of the PCI. But PCI did not accept his nomination and despite several reminders, the PCI president is keeping silence over it.

According to him the reason for the resignation of Varadarajan was because of cancellation of his membership from the state pharmacy council for not renewing his registration with the council. But, the PCI allowed him to continue till next person is elected. The state council had nominated Ajith Kumar to the PCI in the year 2008, but the PCI did not act on his application so far. All his reminders were also rejected by the PCI president, Ajith Kumar alleged.

When contacted, Dr Suresh said vide letter dated 26.3.2009, the president of KSPC informed the PCI that K V Varadarajan, the member of KSPC and of the PCI ceased to be a member of the KSPC u/s 25(3) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and his continuance as member of PCI beyond the expiry of his membership in the KSPC is not tenable as per section 3(g) of the Act.

But he added that subject to the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, 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. The rule says that a nominated or elected member shall be deemed to have vacated his seat if he is absent without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Central Council, from three consecutive meeting of the Central Council or if he ceases to be a member of the teaching staff, Medical Council of India (MCI) or a registered pharmacist, as the case may be.

While rejecting the allegations made by Ajith Kumar, Dr Suresh said that the PCI vide letter dated. 13.5. 2009 informed the KSPC that it did not give the name of newly elected representative of KSPC in place of Varadarajan. Hence, in view of section 7(1) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, Varadarajan will remain as a member of PCI till his successor is intimated to the national council.

Dr Suresh said so far no further communication was received by the PCI from KSPC in this regard.