The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition alleging that two drugs, Remdesivir and Favipiravir, were being administered without approval to treat COVID-19.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala dismissed the application after observing 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 10 Indian pharmaceutical companies for allegedly manufacturing and selling these two drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 patients without proper licences.
Advocate Sharma also urged prosecution of the Indian corporations for deception and criminal conspiracy, as well as violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
According to the PIL, no country has certified these drugs as a treatment for COVID-19 as of yet.
“They are under trial and no country, including India, has issued licence to manufacture and sell them in the country.”
The petition further claimed that more than 300 doctors died in hospitals where these two drugs were provided, which amounted to “public exploitation” due to the fear of death.
In 2020, a bench comprising former Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian issued notice in the plea.
