The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a PIL seeking a probe into the drug safety mechanism in the country by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The bench led by CJI BR Gavai dismissed the plea. This comes in wake of children’s deaths due to toxic ‘Coldrif’ cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The bench comprising CJI BR Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran dismissed the PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to it. Mehta said the petitioner reads the newspaper and rushes to the court.
According to PTI, the court was initially of the view that the notice should be issued, but later dismissed it. The SC said he was not appearing for any state at the moment but the seriousness with which states like Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are taking actions cannot be undermined.
The bench asked Tiwari as to how many PILs he has filed so far in the top court and on being told that he has moved eight to 10 such pleas, the bench dismissed the instant petition.
What did the PIL say?
In his petition, Advocate Vishal Tiwari said called for the constitution of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the manufacture, testing, and distribution of contaminated cough syrups containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG), the same toxic compounds that have previously caused fatalities.
He also sought direction to the Centre to set up a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee to investigate the regulatory failures that allowed the circulation of substandard cough syrups, and to suggest robust measures to prevent such tragedies.
The PIL also sought a direction to transfer all pending FIRs and investigations related to the child deaths due to poisonous cough syrups in various states to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge, to ensure an impartial, coordinated probe.
Cough syrup deaths rock MP, Rajasthan
More than 20 children died combined in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after consuming Coldrif Cough Syrup, a formulation manufactured by M/s Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd., a Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company.
The doctor who prescribe the medicine was earlier arrested, along with the chief of manufacturing company. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has registered its protest against the arrest of the doctor.
A special investigation team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh, assisted by the Chennai police, arrested Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharma Company owner G Ranganathan on Thursday in the cough syrup case. He was produced before the Saidapet magistrate court here, which granted a transit remand and he was then taken to Chhindwara by Madhya Pradesh police officials.
To protest against the actions on medical shops, the District Chemists Association in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district launched an indefinite strike to closing all medical shops in the district.
District president of the Association, Santosh Chaure, told ANI, “Our strike is indefinite and it will continue until the administration accepts our demands. If our demands are accepted now, we will reopen our shops immediately. We had met the SDM last night; he had assured us of a discussion this afternoon, but so far we have not received any call or communication. Our demand is that the action being taken by the administration against our fellow chemists is unfair. Action should be taken only against those who are actually guilty. Our chemist colleagues are not manufacturers of medicine but only sellers, so such action against them is unfair.”
Amid the ongoing probe, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pune seized stock from Rednex Pharma worth Rs 13 lakhs, following the deaths of 20 children in MP.
“Gujarat government’s samples revealed high levels of diethylene glycol in products from Rednex Pharmaceutical and Shape Pharma… In Pune, we have seized the stock of Rednex Pharma worth Rs 13 lakhs… Additionally, a drive has been initiated to inspect local manufacturers to ensure compliance with standards, with surprise visits planned. Legal actions will be taken against those who violate these,” Girish Hukare, the Joint Commissioner for Drugs at FDA Pune, told ANI.