New Delhi, Oct 7: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court following multiple child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly caused by consumption of contaminated cough syrups. The petition seeks an independent, court-monitored investigation and a complete overhaul of India’s drug safety framework.
Filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, the plea urges the Supreme Court to constitute a national judicial commission or expert committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe the manufacture, testing, and distribution of toxic cough syrups found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG), industrial chemicals known to cause fatal poisoning.
The PIL cites incidents in Shivpuri (Madhya Pradesh) and Barmer (Rajasthan), where several children reportedly died after consuming Coldrif Cough Syrup, manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Preliminary findings suggest contamination, raising alarm over recurring lapses in pharmaceutical quality control and regulatory oversight.
Advocate Tiwari has requested the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to:
Establish a national judicial commission comprising experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and drug regulation.
Transfer all ongoing FIRs and investigations into cough syrup-related child deaths to the CBI under supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.
Recall, seize, and ban the sale of all batches of Coldrif Cough Syrup and other Sresan Pharma products until toxicological verification by NABL-accredited laboratories is completed.
Mandate pre-distribution quality testing for all cough syrups intended for domestic and export markets, and implement a uniform national safety audit mechanism.
Direct the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to strengthen inspection, approval, and monitoring protocols for formulations containing DEG and EG.
The PIL emphasizes urgent judicial intervention to safeguard public health and prevent further tragedies linked to toxic pharmaceutical products in India. (Agencies)
