SC Upholds Diploma Mandate for Bihar Pharmacist Jobs, Rejects B.Pharm, M.Pharm Pleas

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has issued a significant ruling on pharmacist recruitment in Bihar, affirming that requiring a Diploma in Pharmacy as an essential qualification is legally justified.

According to a recent media report by Jagran, the Court sustained the constitutional validity of the Bihar Pharmacist Cadre Rules, 2014 (as amended in 2024) and rejected petitions submitted by candidates possessing B.Pharm and M.Pharm degrees.

A bench comprising Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma held that it is within the State government’s jurisdiction to determine the qualifications required for appointments to its services.

The Court further observed that the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and its associated regulations are confined to regulating the profession itself, whereas matters of public employment fall under the policy domain of the State.

In this case, a division bench of the Patna High Court had earlier, in its order dated April 10, 2025, upheld the legitimacy of the rules.

The High Court had concluded that fixing a diploma as the minimum eligibility criterion is neither arbitrary nor discriminatory in nature. The Supreme Court endorsed this view and dismissed the appeals.

The petitioners contended that since B.Pharm and M.Pharm are higher qualifications, degree holders should also be eligible for recruitment. However, the Court pointed out that diploma and degree qualifications serve different purposes, with diploma holders receiving training specifically aligned with hospital-based functions.

The Court also highlighted that degree holders generally have wider career opportunities, whereas diploma holders face relatively limited prospects, reports Jagran.

The State’s decision to prioritize diploma holders does not infringe upon Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.