HC directive on Wockhardt's plea

Madras High Court today directed the concerned Drugs Controller to take inventory of banned dextropropoxyphene, a pain killer, held in the warehouses of its manufacturer Wockhardt and distributors within two weeks and keep them sealed separately.
Justice K K Sasidharan gave the direction while disposing of miscellaneous petitions by Wockhardt Limited and a distributor.
The two in separate petitions submitted that consequent to the Central Government's ban, their warehouses, where the other drugs were also kept, had been sealed inspite of them stopping production of the banned drug.
The sealing of warehouses affected their business activity as a whole, the petitioners said pleading for relief.

The Centre in May last banned the manufacture and sale of dextropropoxyphene, sold under the brand Proxyvon, in view of its alleged harmful effects.
In his order, the Judge said the company was restrained from manufacturing or marketing dextyropropoxyphene till the disposal of the main petition challenging the centre's notification banning the drug.

He directed the company to inform the Drugs Controller of India or the concerned Drug Controllers of the State regarding the stocks available with them and the details of warehouses where the above drug in question were stored.
The concerned Drug Controller should take inventory of the drugs within two weeks and thereafter the package should be sealed and it be kept separately in the warehouses.

The inventory of the drugs taken by the Drug Controller and duly signed by the representatives of the manufacturer or Distributor should be retained by the concerned Drugs Controller.
The Judge further directed the authorities not to take any penal action in view of the direction to take inventory till the disposal of the main writ petition.
However, he said if it was found that the manufacturer was in possession of the suspended drug or its preparations other than the quantity already disclosed, authorities could seize the same and take appropriate action.