New Delhi, July 16 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended till September 15 the deadline for the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to grant approvals to pharmacy colleges for admissions in the 2026-27 academic session, subject to an undertaking that no further extension will be sought in the coming years. The order came on an application filed by the PCI seeking a change in the admission schedule fixed by the court in 2012 and modified in 2025. Under the existing schedule, approvals for colleges and courses were required to be completed by June, with the admission process commencing from August 1. The PCI told the court that delays in inspections, caused by both colleges and a shortage of manpower with the regulator, had slowed the approval process. It sought permission to extend the approval deadline to September 15 and allow classes to begin by October 15. Allowing the plea, a bench of justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said, "We deem it appropriate to allow the application. All states are directed to abide by this order." At the same time, the court recorded an undertaking by PCI president Montu Kumar M Patel, who was present in court, that the regulator would not seek similar extensions in future. Appearing for the PCI along with advocate Ajay Kumar Singh, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the extension was being sought this year because of exceptional circumstances....