1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
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[(2) It extends to the whole of India 3***.]
(3) It shall come into force at once, but Chapters III, IV and V shall take effect in a particular State
from such date 4*** as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this
behalf:
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[Provided that where on account of the territorial changes brought about by the reorganisation of
States on the 1st day of November, 1956, Chapters III, IV and V have effect only in a part of a State, the
said Chapters shall take effect in the remaining part of that State from such date as the State Government
may in like manner appoint.]
2. Interpretation.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) “agreement” means an agreement entered into under section 20;
(b) “approved” means approved by the Central Council under section 12 or section 14;
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[(c) “Central Council” means the Pharmacy Council of India constituted under section 3;
(d) “Central Register” means the register of pharmacists maintained by the Central Council under
section 15A;
(da) “Executive Committee” means the Executive Committee of the Central Council or of the
State Council, as the context may require;
(e) “Indian University” means a University within the meaning of section 3 of the University
Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), and includes such other institutions, being institutions
established by or under a Central Act, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify in this behalf;]
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[(f) “medical practitioner” means a person—
(i) holding a qualification granted by an authority specified or notified under section 3 of the
Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916 (7 of 1916), or specified in the Schedules to the Indian
Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956); or
1. The Act has been extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule; to Pondcherry by Reg. 7
of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule; to Goa, and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 and Schedule (w.e.f. 1-8-1965) and to
Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and the Schedule.
The Act has been modified in its application to the States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Mysore and Rajasthan by S.O. 2814, dated
14-8-1964, Gazette of India, 1964, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii).
The Act has been modified in its application to the State of Tamil Nadu by the Madras Adaptation of Laws (Central Acts)
Order, 1957 and the Madras Adaptation of Laws (Central Acts) Order, 1961.
2. Subs. by Act 24 of 1959, s. 2, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
3. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule
(w.e.f. 31-10-2019).
4. The words “not later than three years from the commencement of this Act,” omitted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
5. Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
6. Subs. by Act 70 of 1976, s. 2, for clauses (c), (d) and (e) (w.e.f. 1-9-1976).
7. Subs. by Act 24 of 1959, s. 3, for clause (f) (w.e.f. 1-5-1960).
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(ii) registered or eligible for registration in a medical register of a State meant for the
registration of persons practising the modern scientific system of medicine; or
(iii) registered in a medical register of a State, who, although not falling within sub-clause (i)
or sub-clause (ii) is declared by a general or special order made by the State Government in this
behalf as a person practising the modern scientific system of medicine for the purposes of this
Act; or
(iv) registered or eligible for registration in the register of dentists for a State under the
Dentists Act, 1948 (16 1948); or
(v) who is engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine and who possesses qualifications
approved by the State Government;]
(g) “prescribed” means in Chapter II prescribed by regulations made under section 18, and
elsewhere prescribed by rules made under section 46;
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[(h) “register” means a register of pharmacists prepared and maintained under Chapter IV;
(i) “registered pharmacist” means a person whose name is for the time being entered in the
register of the State in which he is for the time being residing or carrying on his profession or
business of pharmacy;
(j) “State Council” means a State Council of Pharmacy constituted under section 19, and includes
a Joint State Council of Pharmacy constituted in accordance with an agreement under section 20;
(k) “University Grants Commission” means the University Grants Commission established under
section 4 of the University Grants Commission Act,1956 (3 of 1956).]