Representational image Hyderabad: More than 14 years after a retired employee of the Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL) was booked in a criminal case – approving a sub-standard drug – the Telangana high court quashed all charges against him and even imposed a fine on the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for implicating him without enough evidence. Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti observed that his prosecution is a “sheer abuse of the process of law” and a violation of fundamental rights and ordered CDSCO to pay “exemplary costs (fine)” of Rs 50,000 to the 75-year-old former zonal manager of HAL. It found that the officer retired months before the drug was even manufactured. The case dates back to 2010 when drug inspectors seized samples of Roxythromycin tablets (used to treat bacterial infections), manufactured by a private pharma company and supplied through CDSCO from the Central Hospital, South Central Railways, at Secunderabad and found that they were manufactured in March 2009 and weren’t of “standard quality”. Following a report from a govt laboratory, the drug authorities filed a criminal complaint in 2012, and named the petitioner as the primary accused responsible for the lapse in quality. However, during legal proceedings, the high court found that the petitioner retired from service on Jan 31, 2009 – two months before the substandard batch was produced. The HC noted that the authorities relied on old records to link him to the company’s operations, ignoring the fact that he is no longer an employee. Expressing its disapproval, the bench directed the drug authorities to “independently apply their minds before naming individuals in criminal complaints, as such actions jeopardise careers and families”.About the AuthorPinto DeepakPinto Deepak – Legal Correspondent for The Times of India, Hyderabad, covering Telangana High Court and Supreme Court matters related to the state. Formerly reported on crime in Telangana, including high-profile and violent cases in Hyderabad. Now focused on legal developments, constitutional issues, and judicial accountability in the state’s top courts.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNDA Nears 2/3 Majority As NDA Numbers Swell in Rajya Sabha After AAP Exodus’Party Of Billionaires’: Congress Attacks AAP After 7 Rajya Sabha MPs Join BJPIran Attacks Togo-Flagged Tanker With 17 Indian Seafarers Near Oman; All Safe’Once-in-a-Generation’ India Signs Free Trade Agreement With New Zealand After a Decade of Talks’Attack By BJP Goons’: TMC MP Mitali Bag’s Car Vandalised In Hooghly, BJP Denies TMC’s Charge’You Are Married Because AAP Made You Rajya Sabha Member’: Saurabh Bharadwaj Attacks Raghav ChadhaNDA Surges In Rajya Sabha After Chadha-Led AAP Exodus, BJP Nears Majority“Right Man, Wrong Party”: Raghav Chadha Defends Exit From AAP In New Video“Bound To Happen”: Congress MLA’s Take On Trump Event ShootingArvind Kejriwal Shocks Court With Refusal To Appear In Excise Case123Photostories5 animals that breathe through their skin (and why can’t humans do the same)10 baby boy names that symbolise wisdom and intelligenceIs your sedentary lifestyle making your brain age faster than you think?Morning affirmation at 5am: What you must tell yourself todayWhy tadka turns bitter: 5 expert tips for preparing perfect tadka at home10 delicious Indian sweets made with fresh cheesePM Narendra Modi praises 3 desi Indian cheese varieties and asks how many have you triedHow Brahma Muhurta Routines Can Improve Focus, Clarity, and Discipline8 historic landmarks in Mumbai that are more than 100 years old: Why you should visit themTop 5 residential areas of Nashik for quality living and investment123Hot PicksWest Bengal PollsPM ModiMamata BanerjeeRahul GandhiBengal RallyWest Bengal ElectionsMatua CommunityTop TrendingRussini Mike Photo ControversyTamil Nadu electionNFL Trade RumorsPetrol Diesel PriceAssam HS 12th ResultJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsJack GrealishIPL Orange Cap
Hyderabad: More than 14 years after a retired employee of the Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL) was booked in a criminal case – approving a sub-standard drug – the Telangana high court quashed all charges against him and even imposed a fine on the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for implicating him without enough evidence. Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti observed that his prosecution is a “sheer abuse of the process of law” and a violation of fundamental rights and ordered CDSCO to pay “exemplary costs (fine)” of Rs 50,000 to the 75-year-old former zonal manager of HAL. It found that the officer retired months before the drug was even manufactured. The case dates back to 2010 when drug inspectors seized samples of Roxythromycin tablets (used to treat bacterial infections), manufactured by a private pharma company and supplied through CDSCO from the Central Hospital, South Central Railways, at Secunderabad and found that they were manufactured in March 2009 and weren’t of “standard quality”. Following a report from a govt laboratory, the drug authorities filed a criminal complaint in 2012, and named the petitioner as the primary accused responsible for the lapse in quality. However, during legal proceedings, the high court found that the petitioner retired from service on Jan 31, 2009 – two months before the substandard batch was produced. The HC noted that the authorities relied on old records to link him to the company’s operations, ignoring the fact that he is no longer an employee. Expressing its disapproval, the bench directed the drug authorities to “independently apply their minds before naming individuals in criminal complaints, as such actions jeopardise careers and families”.
