Bhopal: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Public Interest Litigation filed in the case of death of children due to consuming cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The court has decided to hear the petition on Friday seeking investigation and systemic reforms in the drug safety mechanism. The bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, while considering the arguments of advocate and petitioner Vishal Tiwari, said that the matter is serious and deserves immediate hearing.
The petition requests a court-monitored investigation into these incidents and the formation of a National Judicial Commission or expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. Furthermore, the petition calls for the transfer of all FIRs and investigations related to the deaths of children from toxic cough syrup to the CBI, ensuring a uniform and impartial investigation across the country.
The petitioner argued that conducting investigations in different states fragments accountability, leading to repeated incidents and the continued flow of dangerous drugs into the market. Therefore, a centralized investigation is needed to ensure system-wide reform.
The petition seeks direction to the central government to investigate the lapses in the drug safety and quality testing system that led to the release of substandard drugs into the market. It also urges the court to mandate toxicology testing of all suspect products through NABL-accredited laboratories before allowing any further sale or export.
