The employer will make the final 'judgment' said the Supreme Court on Saturday in a case filed by pharmacists from Bihar. Having big degrees or having adequate quality is not the final deciding factor when it comes to hiring, as the Court clearly stated that educational qualification is not the final word.
A Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) was being sought as the minimum qualification for various pharmacist positions in the Centre and the state. But candidates holding B.Pharm or M.Pharm degrees could not apply for government pharmacist recruitment due to not having a diploma. They claimed that this was unfair. They are highly educated. They have experience. So they should also be allowed to apply. Most importantly, they are also pharmacists. Then why can't they apply?
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Supreme Court upholds Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules
A case was filed in the Supreme Court in 2025 over this issue. After the hearing, the division bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma gave constitutional validity to the 2014 Bihar Pharmacists Cadre Rules. Along with this, the justices stated that the employer will determine the criteria for qualification. Even after having registration as a pharmacist, government jobs may not be available.
Diploma holders are considered more suitable for government health centres
The diploma course requires 500 hours of practical work in hospitals. There, the degree course has only 150 hours. Therefore, the justices believe that diploma holders are more suitable for dispensing medicines and advising patients at government health centres.
The court has practically acknowledged that diploma holders have fewer job opportunities. On the other hand, B.Pharm or M.Pharm degree holders can work in various fields like pharmaceuticals, research, or as drug inspectors, where diploma holders don't get opportunities. Therefore, the justices have made it clear that whatever the employers want is the final word.
