JEECUP 2025 pharmacy counselling stopped after HC order citing PCI ranking delay, violation of SC deadline

The Joint Entrance Examination Council (Polytechnic), Uttar Pradesh has stopped the JEECUP counselling 2025 process for diploma in pharmacy courses until further notice. The decision to put JEECUP pharmacy counselling 2025 on hold was made following the order by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.

“Diploma in Pharmacy Counselling is stopped with immediate effect in compliance with the High Court Lucknow Bench Order,” the official website read.

The Lucknow bench cancelled the entire pharmacy counselling in Uttar Pradesh stating that the state government did not comply with the deadline set by the Supreme Court.

With an objective to improve the quality of pharmacy education, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), top regulatory body for pharmaceutical sciences, in April announced plans to develop a ‘cutting-edge’ ranking and rating system in collaboration with Quality Council of India (QCI).

According to the Supreme Court order, the PCI has until August 31, 2025, to grant permission and recognition to pharmacy institutions. The DPharma counselling can only commence after that.

In this regard, the Lucknow bench noted that the state government has issued the counselling schedule prematurely and has also failed to seek modification to the apex court’s order. The court deemed such action as “illegal” and gave two weeks time to PCI to decide on the pending recognition application.

The ranking for pharmacy courses and colleges had already begun in April for the academic year 2025-26. However, it has not been completed yet. As per the notices issued this year, colleges will have to pay a “ranking fee” of Rs 50,000, plus GST, for DPharma courses, and Rs 1 lakh, plus GST for UG courses to the QCI.