Jharkhand Health Dept Moves to Derecognise 34 D.Pharm Colleges Over NOC, Infrastructure Lapses
Ranchi: The Jharkhand Health Department has moved to cancel the recognition of 34 pharmacy colleges for running Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) courses without mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOC), required approvals, land, buildings, and adequate teaching and non-teaching staff, following a statewide inspection of 71 pharmacy institutions conducted by a government-appointed committee.
The action includes withdrawal of Letters of Consent, stoppage of admissions, and accountability of regulatory bodies, after authorities found large-scale and long-standing violations of prescribed pharmacy education norms.
As per the findings of the investigation, the 34 colleges neither obtained nor applied for the mandatory NOC from the state government but continued to operate D.Pharm programmes. Most of these institutions were found to be functioning without basic infrastructure such as their own land and permanent buildings, and without qualified faculty and support staff, making them ineligible to run pharmacy courses under existing rules.
The inspection also identified 36 additional pharmacy colleges that were found to be partially non-compliant. While these institutions reportedly possess land and buildings, they lack either adequate staff or the mandatory NOC. These colleges have been placed under an “efforts underway” category, and notices have been issued seeking explanations. Further action against them will be decided after evaluating their responses.
The probe has raised serious concerns about regulatory oversight. The Health Department has sought explanations from the Chairman and Member-Secretary of the Diploma in Pharmacy Examination Committee, questioning how such widespread violations escaped notice for years. The role of inspection and monitoring mechanisms was also flagged during the review.
The inspection was carried out by a three-member committee constituted in August 2025 by Jharkhand Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajay Kumar Singh. The committee was headed by Deputy Secretary Ranjit Lohra, with Dhirenjan Prasad Sharma and Prashant Pandey as members. After examining infrastructure, staffing, and regulatory compliance across institutions, the committee submitted its report, which led to the present enforcement action.
According to a recent media report in Dainik Bhaskar, the state government has clarified that pharmacy colleges operating without valid approvals will not be allowed to continue and that admissions in such institutions will be stopped to safeguard students’ academic and professional future.
The Health Department has reiterated that strict enforcement of pharmacy education norms is essential to maintain academic standards and ensure the availability of qualified pharmacy professionals.
