NEW DELHI| OCTOBER 11,2025| SKY LINK TIMES|
Toxic Cough Syrup Tregedy:
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the deaths of at least 21 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly caused by a toxic cough syrup named Coldrif, manufactured by Sresan Pharma Pvt Ltd of Tamil Nadu.
The PIL, filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, also sought a nationwide drug safety audit and the establishment of a National Pharmacovigilance Portal, but the apex court declined to intervene, citing ongoing state investigations.
Court Dismisses Plea, Cites Ongoing State Action
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, that both Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu authorities had already initiated firm action against the manufacturer. The court accepted the assurance and refused to transfer the probe to the CBI.
Chief Justice Khanna noted that state agencies were “actively pursuing the matter” and observed that PILs must not overlap with ongoing criminal investigations.
Toxic Syrup Tragedy: 21 Children Dead
The deaths occurred after children consumed Coldrif, a cough syrup found contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG) — a toxic industrial chemical known to cause acute kidney failure.
The victims, mostly from Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) and adjoining areas of Rajasthan, were administered the syrup to treat common colds and fevers.
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Following the tragedy, Tamil Nadu police arrested the 75-year-old owner, G. Ranganathan, and sealed the factory on October 1, banning further sale of the product. Several states have since imposed parallel bans to prevent further casualties.
Systemic Gaps in Drug Oversight Exposed
In his petition, advocate Tiwari highlighted recurring failures in India’s pharmaceutical regulation — including the lack of a national drug recall policy, limited quality control on small-scale producers, and no centralized safety database for over-the-counter medicines.
He cited past World Health Organization (WHO) warnings linking Indian-made syrups to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan, urging the creation of a national monitoring system.
However, the bench questioned Tiwari’s PIL history and emphasized that the judiciary could not micromanage administrative investigations already in progress.
Public Health Wake-Up Call
The incident has once again raised questions about India’s drug safety and quality standards, particularly for syrup-based formulations. Health experts have urged the Centre and state governments to adopt pre-release testing and batch-level transparency to prevent similar tragedies.
While swift arrests and factory closures demonstrate accountability, experts warn that such measures are reactive, not preventive — pointing to a systemic need for unified national drug safety reform.
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