The Supreme Court on Friday (October 10) dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought a CBI investigation into the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly caused by contaminated cough syrups.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran rejected the PIL filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea, arguing that the states were competent to conduct investigations and had already taken appropriate action. He further remarked that the petitioner was in the habit of filing PILs based solely on media reports.
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“How many PILs have you filed?” the CJI asked. Tiwari responded, “Eight or nine.” The bench then proceeded to dismiss the petition.
The plea was filed after a series of child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, reportedly linked to toxic cough syrups containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG)—substances that have been associated with previous fatalities.
The PIL sought the formation of a National Judicial Commission or an Expert Committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the manufacture, testing, and distribution of the contaminated syrups. It also requested the transfer of all related FIRs and investigations across states to the CBI for a coordinated and impartial probe, supervised by a former Supreme Court judge.
Additionally, the plea urged authorities to immediately recall, seize, and prohibit the sale and distribution of all batches of Coldrif Cough Syrup and other products manufactured by Sresan Pharma Pvt. Ltd. or its affiliated companies. It also called for these products to undergo toxicological testing in NABL-accredited laboratories before any further sale or export.
