The Madras High Court Friday directed the Tamil Nadu government to conduct an inquiry to ascertain reasons for the rampant rise in viral infections across the State "one after the other since COVID-19." [S Muthumalai Rani v. The Secretary].Justice SM Subramaniam also asked the State to probe into whether pharmaceutical companies were behind the rise in infections..The interim directions in a writ petition filed by a government medical store officer accused of having procured excess medicines and letting them sit on the shelves beyond their expiry dates.The Court said that it was common knowledge that government hospitals in both urban and rural areas faced countless allegations of providing medicines past their expiry dates to patients. "After COVID-19, Monkey Pox, and thereafter, Influenza, and many more are spreading continuously across Tamil Nadu. These viral diseases are spreading continuously and the reason for such spreading over are not found out by the Medical Researchers, and competent authorities of the State......Whether pharmaceutical companies are indulging in any other illegal activities for spreading these kind of viral diseases or not, are also to be enquired into and an investigation is imminent..." the Court said. The State has been directed to submit its inquiry report by October 27..Advocate T Sudhan Raj appeared for the petitioner. Advocates Stalin Abhimanyu, D Gopal and V Murali appeared for the respondents..[Read Order]
