GUWAHATI, Nov 26 - Two more �fake� pharmacists have been identified in the State, taking the list of such �hoax paramedics� detected in the State to 2,891.
Officials at the Assam Pharmacy Council said the duo, one from Nalbari and another from Dhubri, had got registration during the period 2001-2010 by fraudulent means. On verification, it was found that they faked their qualification. �One has surrendered his licence and other documents. We hope, the other one will also do so soon,� the officials said.
Meanwhile, the council said that a government as well as a private pleader is being appointed to appeal for vacation of an earlier Gauhati High Court order which had directed status quo on the cancellation of 754 licences of fake pharmacists detected by the regulatory body.
�We have already submitted our affidavit in this regard before the High Court. Our lawyers will plead for vacation of the earlier order,� council�s registrar BC Das told The Assam Tribune.
During an intense verification conducted after 2011, the council had detected some 2,889 �fake pharmacists� who were operating in the State. Most of the registrations were given between 1999 and 2010, during which the council was operating without an executive committee.
The government had nominated a committee in the year 2011, after which the verification was carried out. Following the detection, an FIR was also lodged at Dispur Police Station against 754 such fake pharmacists.
However, three such �fake� pharmacists filed a petition at the High Court challenging the council�s move, which then directed a status quo on the exercise to cancel the licences.
The council was in the process of acting against the others when the High Court order came. The council said that such doubtful pharmacists are even working in government posts.
In its affidavit before the High Court, the council has detailed the exercise through which the alleged fake pharmacists had registered themselves with the council, obtained licences and were operating in the State.
There are some 14,000 registered pharmacists in the State.
