Cough syrup death case: Supreme Court gives verdict, rules out CBI inquiry

 New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News) – The Supreme Court has issued a significant ruling on a public interest litigation filed in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan regarding the deaths of several children after consuming cough syrup. Rejecting the petition, the court stated that state governments are capable of investigating such cases on their own, and that seeking Supreme Court oversight each time amounts to a lack of trust in the judicial system.

In fact, a petition was filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari, demanding that the entire matter be investigated by a National Judicial Commission or an expert committee. He also urged the Supreme Court to have this investigation monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge, ensuring a fair and transparent investigation. The petition also stated that reports of children dying from cough syrups and other medications have repeatedly surfaced across the country, but no concrete action has been taken. Therefore, it is essential that every medicine undergoes a proper testing process before it is released to the market.

Advocate Tiwari argued that strict regulations should be enacted for the sale and monitoring of toxic chemicals like diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, used in medicines, to prevent such incidents from recurring. He also demanded that the families of the victims be compensated and that the FIRs registered in the states be transferred to a single location for a uniform investigation. The petition also urged that the licenses of companies manufacturing toxic drugs under the guise of cough syrups be revoked and strict legal action be taken against them.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the petition in the Supreme Court. He stated that this is entirely a matter for state governments, and they are capable of conducting their own investigations. Intervening in every case would be tantamount to expressing distrust in the state governments. He questioned the petitioner's motives, saying that whenever something happens, they read the newspapers and file PILs. The Chief Justice then asked Tiwari how many PILs he had filed so far. Tiwari replied, "8 or 10." The Supreme Court then dismissed the petition without comment, stating that state governments are competent enough to take action on this matter on their own.