How govt restored licences of tainted drug dealers: HC

PATNA: The Patna high court on Monday ordered the principal secretary (health) to explain how the revoked licences of tainted drug wholesalers were restored by the appellate authority of health department.
Hearing two PILs filed by Vikash Chandra alias Guddu Baba and taking cognizance of TOI report published on April 23, 2017, the division bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice Rajeev Ranjan Prasad ordered the principal secretary to file a counter affidavit within four weeks.
After authorities had cancelled the licences of several wholesale dealers who were found selling fake and spurious drugs, including those meant for supply in only government hospitals.
The petitioner has also urged the court to order the officials concerned for transferring several pharmacists who were posted in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for more than 20 years.
The petitioner, in a supplementary counter affidavit submitted on Monday, apprised the court that health minister Mangal Pandey on April 19 this year restored the licences of 11 drug wholesalers who were allegedly found involved in selling fake and spurious drugs and whose licences had been cancelled last year.
The petitioner annexed 11 letters procured through RTI in his affidavit regarding restoration of licences of Srinivas Laboratories Private Limited at Nandlal Chapra in Agamkuan, Mahalaxmi Traders at Ashok Rajpath, Ashtha Medico at Professor’s Colony in Kankarbagh, New Revival Homeo Pharmacy at Sabzibagh, SM Drug at Mulchand Road and Bhagwati Drugs at Thana Road at Dalsinghsarai in Samastipur, Prakash Medical Store at Chand in Kaimur, Bihar National Pharmacy, K R Indo German Homeo Hall, German Homeo Hall and Economic Homeo Pharmacy at Bichli Road in Bhojpur district.
The petitioner informed the court that DIG (central range) Rajesh Kumar had found the allegations against Shrinivas Laboratories true and had submitted his report to the high court on May 10 this year.
The court was also submitted that expired anti-snake venom serum and its wrappers were seized from Mahalaxmi Traders during a raid conducted by drug inspectors on May 27 last year.
He also urged the court to order the authorities concerned not to transfer the drug inspectors, who had unearthed the racket under ‘Operation Drug Mafia’.