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Court summons Drugs Controller

CUTTACK: The High Court on Thursday sought the State Drugs Controller’s personal appearance in connection with the death of some patients in SCB Hospital in the year 2000 allegedly due to administration of spurious and contaminated saline.

The Bench also wanted to know from the government if criminal proceedings could be initiated against the former Drugs Controller, Kritibas Rup, who had already retired after superannuating. The government advocate replied in the affirmative.

The Bench of Chief Justice A.K. Ganguly and Justice Indrajit Mohanty gave this order following the report submitted by the State Vigilance Director, which suggested fixing of responsibility on the then drugs controller in accordance to law for his “dubious” role in circulation of contaminated saline. The Vigilance Director was asked to personally inquire into the matter in August this year.

It may be recalled here that at least three women and two children died in the Gynaecology Department of Cuttack hospital in August 2000 allegedly due to spurious saline. A PIL to this effect was filed in the high court with a prayer to direct the CBI to investigate into the cause of deaths and to unearth the racket in the supply and purchase of fake drugs. In response to the PIL, the government had given an affidavit in September 2000, along with a report of an expert committee.

The high court, however, directed for a fresh probe into the case as it found that the expert committee report was a little “incongruous,” as the government analyst said the sample of saline in question passed all pharmacopoeia parameters, except the single test of bacterial endotoxin.

The then Vigilance Director and present DGP of the State police Gopal Chandra Nanda submitted the report to the high court in the month of October. Mr. Nanda, in his report, indicated that the saline was procured for government hospitals from as many as 25 companies who had no valid licence to produce drugs. The Vigilance Director also submitted a VCD to the high court showing how companies in the State were producing drugs in absolute “unhygienic” conditions.

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