About Authors
Dr. R. S. Thakur
Chief Editor, Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru-560035.
Email: drramsthakur@gmail.com
The Pharmacy Act, 1948 came into existence on 4th March 1948 [1] and within a couple of days Pharmacists’ Association of India, No. 44, Dharmatala Street, Calcutta represented to the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Government of India, New Delhi (an ex-officio member of Central Council under clause(d) of Section 3 of the Act). The content of the representation of Pharmacists’ Association of India is reproduced below:-
“Most respectfully I beg to draw your kind attention to the fact that the Pharmacy Act has already been gazetted by your Government Gazette of 4th March, 1948.
The Pharmacists of India want, through this Association, to draw your attention to a rapid progress in all branches of Science except Pharmacy, and hence this Association wants that your Government should immediately take necessary actions to set up the Central Council of Pharmacy. We are prepared to render our active help and demand as well that the representative Associations should be recognised to the fullest.
Expecting an early reply.”
The above representation of Pharmacists’ Association of India, Calcutta reached D.G.H.S. Office, New Delhi on 26th March, 1948 and Director General of Health Services forwarded it to the Ministry of Health, Government of India on 13th April, 1948. This representation from Calcutta evoked immediate response from Central Government as is evident from the fact that on 17th April, 1948 Ministry of Health, Government of India wrote letter No. F. 6-2/48-DS to the Secretary to all the Provincial governments. The content of this letter 17th April, 1948 is reproduced below:-
“I am directed to say that the Government of India are taking steps to set up the Pharmacy Council of India under Section 3 of Pharmacy Act, 1948(copy enclosed) which received the assent of the Governor-General on the 4th March, 1948. Under Section 3(h) of the Act, the provincial Government has to nominate one member on the Council, who shall be either a registered medical practitioner or a registered pharmacist. Under Section 3(g) of the Act read with the proviso at the end of the section, the Provincial Government has further to nominate one member to serve on the Council who shall be a person eligible for registration as a Pharmacist under Section 31 of the Act. I am to request that the names of nominees of the Provincial Government may be intimated to the Government of India at an early date.”
In response to Ministry’s letter dated 17th April, 1948 to Provincial Governments, process of nomination started.
The details of which are described hereunder.
1. Government of East Punjab vide letter No. 3652-M-48/28163 Dated Shimla, the 22nd May, 1948 nominated:-
(i) Dr. K. N. Gaind, M. Sc., Ph. D. (Pb.), Lecturer in Pharmaceutics, Glancy Medical College, Amritsar as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. H. B. N. Swift, M.B.B.S., J.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., D.P.H., Professor of Pharmacology, Glancy Medical College, Amritsar as member under Section 3(h).
2. Government of West Bengal vide letter No. Medl. 6A-35/48 dated Calcutta, the 1st June, 1948 nominated: -
(i) Mr. S. N. Bal, Ph. C., B. S.(Pharm.), M. S. in Pharm (Mich) as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. J. C. Gupta, M. D., Professor of Pharmacology, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta as member under Section 3(h).
3. Government of United Provinces vide letter No. 2704/XVI-71(A)/1948 Lucknow, dated the 2/7th June, 1948 nominated: -
(i) Prof. G. P. Srivastava, M. Pharm as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. J. Misquitta, D.P.H., Assistant Drug Controller, United Provinces as member under Section 3(h).
4. Government of Bombay vide letter No. 6035/33-H dated 9th June, 1948 nominated: -
(i) Mr. B. V. Patel, B. Sc. (Bombay), B. Pharm (London), Ph. C.(GB), Officiating Assistant Director, Department of Pharmacology, Haffkine Institute, Bombay as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Mr. B. B. Yodh, M.B.B.S.(Bombay), M.R.C.S.(England), M.R.C.P.(London), D.T.M.&H (England), Professor of Medicine, Grant Medical College and Honorary Physician, J. J. Group of Hospitals, Bombay as member under Section 3(h).
5. Government of Assam vide letter No. MMD/223/48/18 Dated Shillong, the 16th June, 1948 nominated: -
(i) Mr. B. K. Datta Roy, M. Sc. Officer-in-Charge, Public Health Laboratory, Shillong as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Lt. Col. A. N. Chopra, M.B.B.S. (Pb.), D.T.M.(Liv), D.P.H.(Eng), Inspector-General of Civil Hospital, Assam, Shillong as member under Section 3(h).
6. Government of Madras nominated:-
(i) Mr. A. N. Lazarus, C/o, M/s. Spencer & Co. Ltd., Madras as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. J. C. David, Professor of Pharmacology, Stanley Medical College, Madras as member under Section 3(h).
7. Government of C. P. and Berar nominated:-
(i) Dr. D. M. Thergaonkar, Assistant Medical Officer, Mayo Hospital, Nagpur as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. K. N. Sinha, Professor of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nagpur as member under Section 3(h).
8. Government of Bihar nominated:-
(i) Dr. Shiv Behari Lal, Chemical Analyst, Bihar Drugs Control Laboratory, Patna as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. B. N. Prasad, Director, Bihar Drugs Control Laboratory, Patna as member under Section 3(h).
9. Government of Orissa nominated:-
(i) Mr. Raj Kishore Nanda, Secretary, All Utkal Compounders Union, Cuttack, Orissa as member under Section 3(g), and
(ii) Dr. P. C. Ray, M.B., L.M. (Dublin), Professor of Midwifery and Gynaecology, Orissa Medical College, Cuttack, Orissa as member under Section 3(h).
After initiating the process for nomination of members by Provincial Governments, Government of India initiated the process for nominating the first President of Pharmacy Council of India under the proviso of sub-Section (1) of Section 5 of the Pharmacy Act. This proviso stands omitted by Section 5 of Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1959 (Act 24 of 1959) [2] hence readers cannot find it in the Pharmacy Act book, now available in the market. The said amendment is reproduced below:-
“5. In section 5 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), the proviso shall be omitted.” Amendment of section 5.
Finally on 17th June, 1948 Government of India issued notification, nominating Rao Bahadur KCKE Raja, O.B.E., Director General of Health Services and ex-officio member of PCI under Section 3(d) of the Act as the first President of Pharmacy Council of India. This inaugurated the process of constitution of Pharmacy Council of India and functioning of PCI officially began from 17th June, 1948.
Soon after assuming the Office of President PCI, Dr. Raja started framing regulations under Section 18 of the Act for holding first election of the members of PCI and functioning of the Council. The regulations were notified vide Notification No. F. 6-2/48-DS, dated 4th October, 1948. Pursuant to these regulations the Inter-University Board conducted elections of six members under Section 3(a) of the Act and Medical Council of India elected one member under clause (c) of Section 3.
The result of election of six members under Section 3(a) was declared by the President, Pharmacy Council of India on 3rd March, 1949. The list of elected member under this clause is given below:-
1. Dr. T. R. Sheshadri, M. A., Ph. D., F.I.C., Professor of Chemistry, Andhra University.
2. Dr. R. P. Patel, M. Sc., Ph. D.(London), Principal, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Navarangapura, Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad.
3. Dr. M. D. Chakravarti, B. Sc., M. B., D. Phil. , Professor, Medical College, Agra.
4. Dr. B. B. Dikshit, M.B.B.S., D. Phil., M.R.C.P., Principal, B. J. Medical College, Poona.
5. Prof. N. R. Dhar, D. Sc., I.E.S. in Chemistry, Allahabad University.
6. Dr. A. C. Ukil, M.B.B.S., Member of Medical Faculty, Calcutta University.
In pursuance of clause (b) of Section 3 of the Pharmacy Act, Central government nominated the following six members on the Pharmacy Council of India:
1. Mr. K. C. Chatterjee, B. Sc. (Cal), B. Sc.(Pharmacy) Manchestet, Ph. C., D.B.A., D. P.A.(GB), Chief analyst, Boots Pure Drug Company (India) Ltd. Sion works, Bombay-22.
2. Dr. H. R. Nanji, B. Sc., Ph.D.(Lond), F.R.I.C., Director, Manufacturing and analytical Research Chemists ltd. Bombay.
3. Mr. P. Das, B.S. (Pharmacy), M.S. (Pharmacy) (Michigan), Stadco Stores and laboratories, Shillong.
4. Mr. M. L. Schroff, A. B. (Cornell), M.S.(Mass), Pharmaceutical Chemists, Birla Laboratories, Calcutta.
5. Mr. P. M. Nabar, B.A., B.Sc.(Bom), B.Sc.(Tech)(Manchester), F.R.I.C., Chief Advisory Chemist, Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi.
6. Mr. Ratan Lal Gupta, M. Sc. Young Friends & Co., Delhi.
In pursuance of clause (c) of Section 3 of the Pharmacy Act and the regulations of Pharmacy Council of India notified on 4th October, 1948 , Medical council of India elected:-
Dr. Balbhadra Mishra , M.B.B.S., Provincial Leprosy and Health Publicity Officer, Orissa as member of Pharmacy council of India.
Completion of the nominations and elections of members under clauses (a) to (h) of Section 3 of Pharmacy Act, by 3rd March, 1949 thus paved way for constituting the first Pharmacy Council of India. Government of India, Ministry of Health issued notification constituting the Pharmacy Council of India by Central government under Section 3 of the Act vide notification No. F. 6-2/48-DS dated 9th March, 1949. The notification read as under:-
In pursuance of Section 3 of Pharmacy Act, 1948 (VIII of 1948) the Central government is pleased to constitute Pharmacy Council of India consisting of the following members:-
Elected by Inter-University Board under clause (a)
1. Dr. T. R. Sheshadri, M. A., Ph. D., F.I.C., Professor of Chemistry, Andhra University.
2. Dr. R. P. Patel, M. Sc., Ph. D.(London), Principal, L. M. College of Pharmacy, Navarangapura, Ellis Bridge, Ahmedabad.
3. Dr. M. D. Chakravarti, B. Sc., M. B., D. Phil. , Professor, Medical College, Agra.
4. Dr. B. B. Dikshit, M.B.B.S., D. Phil., M.R.C.P., Principal, B. J. Medical College, Poona.
5. Prof. N. R. Dhar, D. Sc., I.E.S. in Chemistry, Allahabad University.
6. Dr. A. C. Ukil, M.B.B.S., Member of Medical Faculty, Calcutta University. Nominated by Central Government under clause (b)
7. Mr. K. C. Chatterjee, B. Sc. (Cal), B. Sc.(Pharmacy) Manchestet, Ph. C., D.B.A., D. P.A.(GB), Chief analyst, Boots Pure Drug Company (India) Ltd. Sion works, Bombay-22.
8. Dr. H. R. Nanji, B. Sc., Ph.D.(Lond), F.R.I.C., Director, Manufacturing and analytical Research Chemists ltd. Bombay.
9. Mr. P. Das, B.S. (Pharmacy), M.S. (Pharmacy) (Michigan), Stadco Stores and laboratories, Shillong.
10. Mr. M. L. Schroff, A. B. (Cornell), M.S.(Mass), Pharmaceutical Chemists, Birla Laboratories, Calcutta.
11. Mr. P. M. Nabar, B.A., B.Sc.(Bom), B.Sc.(Tech)(Manchester), F.R.I.C., Chief Advisory Chemist, Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi.
12. Mr. Ratan Lal Gupta, M. Sc. Young Friends & Co., Delhi. Elected by Medical council of India under clause (c)
13. Dr. Balbhadra Mishra , M.B.B.S., Provincial Leprosy and Health Publicity Officer, Orissa Ex-officio members under clause (d), (e) and (f)
14. The Director General of Health Services
15. Dr. B. Mukerji, Director, Central Drugs Laboratory, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta.
16. Mr. T. S. T. Chari, Chief Chemist, Central Revenues Control Laboratories, Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
Nominated by Provincial Governments under clause (g) read with the proviso
17. Mr. B. V. Patel, B. Sc. (Bombay), B. Pharm (London), Ph. C.(GB), Officiating Assistant Director, Department of Pharmacology, Haffkine Institute, Bombay.
18. Mr. A. N. Lazarus, C/o, M/s. Spencer & Co. Ltd., Madras.
19. Mr. S. N. Bal, Ph. C., B. S.(Pharm.), M. S. in Pharm (Mich), 10 Hindustan Park, P.O:-Rash Behari Avenue, Calcutta.
20. Prof. G. P. Srivastava, M. Pharm, Banaras Hindu University, Banaras.
21. Dr. D. M. Thergaonkar, Assistant Medical Officer, Mayo Hospital, Nagpur.
22. Dr. Shiv Behari Lal, Chemical Analyst, Bihar Drugs Control Laboratory, Patna.
23. Dr. K. N. Gaind, M. Sc., Ph. D.(Pb.), Lecturer in Pharmaceutics, Glancy Medical College, Amritsar.
24. Mr. Raj Kishore Nanda, Secretary, All Utkal Compounders Union, Cuttack, Orissa.
25. Mr. B. K. Datta Roy, M. Sc. Officer-in-Charge, Public Health Laboratory, Shillong, Assam.
Nominated by Provincial Governments under clause (h)
26. Mr. B. B. Yodh, M.B.B.S.(Bombay), M.R.C.S.(England), M.R.C.P.(London), D.T.M.&H (England), Professor of Medicine, Grant Medical College and Honorary Physician, J. J. Group of Hospitals, Bombay.
27. Dr. J. C. David, Professor of Pharmacology, Stanley Medical College, Madras.
28. Dr. J. C. Gupta, M. D., Professor of Pharmacology, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta.
29. Dr. J. Misquitta, D. P.H., Assistant Drug Controller, United Provinces, Lucknow.
30. Dr. K. N. Sinha, Professor of Pharmacology, Medical College, Nagpur.
31. Dr. B. N. Prasad, Director, Bihar Drugs Control Laboratory, Patna.
32. Dr. H. B. N. Swift, M.B.B.S., J.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., D.P.H., Professor of Pharmacology, Glancy Medical College, Amritsar.
33. Dr. P. C. Ray, M.B., L. M. (Dublin), Professor of Midwifery and Gynaecology, Orissa Medical College, Cuttack, Orissa.
34. Lt. Col. A. N. Chopra, M.B.B.S. (Pb.), D.T.M.(Liv), D.P.H.(Eng), Inspector-General of Civil Hospital, Assam, Shillong.
The above narration of events after enactment of Pharmacy Act vividly describes the sequence of events following the representation of Pharmacists’ Association of India, Calcutta.
The official notification of constitution of the Pharmacy Council of India on 9th March, 1949 was followed by convening of the first meeting of PCI. The very first meeting of PCI was held on 16th May, 1949. The most important outcome of the very first meeting was:-
1. Election of Prof. M. L. Schroff as the first Vice-President of Pharmacy Council of India, and
2. Election of five members of Executive Committee of PCI namely,
(i) Mr. P. M. Nabar,
(ii) Dr. H. R. Nanji,
(iii) Dr. B. Mukerji,
(iv) Mr. B. V. Patel, and
(v) Prof. G. P. Srivastava.
References
1. Dr. R. S. Thakur. Celebrating 75th Year of Pharmacy Act, 1948. PHARMATUTOR. 4 January 2022.
2. The Gazette of India Extraordinary, PART II - Section 1, No. 21, New Delhi, Friday, August 28, 1959. The Pharmacy (Amendment) Act, 1959 (No. 24 of 1959). Ministry of Law (Legislative Department). P 195-203.
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