The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea alleging that two drugs - Remdesivir and Favipiravir - were being used for treatment of COVID-19 without approval..Pertinently, in October 2020 the then Chief Justice SA Bobde had issued notice on the plea.While dismissing the plea on the Monday, a Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala observed how notice was issued in the matter..Petitioner in-person Advocate ML Sharma sought registration of an first information report (FIR) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and selling these two medicines for treating COVID-19 patients allegedly without valid licences.Sharma further sought prosecution of the Indian companies for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy, besides offences under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940..The PIL stated that these medicines have not been certified as treatment for COVID-19 till date by any country."They are under trial and no country, including India, has issued licence to manufacture and sell them in the country."The plea further averred that more than 300 doctors have died in hospitals where these two medicines have been supplied and it amounted to "exploitation of public" due to the fear of death.A Bench of the then Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian had issued notice in the plea in 2020.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea alleging that two drugs - Remdesivir and Favipiravir - were being used for treatment of COVID-19 without approval..Pertinently, in October 2020 the then Chief Justice SA Bobde had issued notice on the plea.While dismissing the plea on the Monday, a Bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala observed how notice was issued in the matter..Petitioner in-person Advocate ML Sharma sought registration of an first information report (FIR) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against ten Indian pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and selling these two medicines for treating COVID-19 patients allegedly without valid licences.Sharma further sought prosecution of the Indian companies for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy, besides offences under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940..The PIL stated that these medicines have not been certified as treatment for COVID-19 till date by any country."They are under trial and no country, including India, has issued licence to manufacture and sell them in the country."The plea further averred that more than 300 doctors have died in hospitals where these two medicines have been supplied and it amounted to "exploitation of public" due to the fear of death.A Bench of the then Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian had issued notice in the plea in 2020.
