SC seeks Bihar's reply on alleged corruption in drugs purchase

The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Bihar government on a petition seeking CBI probe into alleged irregularities in processing and purchasing of drugs and surgical items by Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL).

A bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha issued notices to state government through its chief secretary, Department of Health and other departments concerned including BMSICL on the petition alleging mass corruption.

The petition alleged that there were irregularities in the quality, quantity and rate of purchase of drugs and surgical items for 2012-13, ignoring the standard set by Bihar's State Health Society, formed to oversee better implementation of National Rural Health Mission.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by Mohd Sahanwaz Ali challenging the Patna High Court's July 24 order refusing independent probe with a direction that the state's Principal Secretary, Health would conduct an enquiry and final decision would be based on its outcome.

Senior advocate Rajiv Dutta along with lawyer Rajiv Kumar Singh, appearing for Ali, submitted that many patients have died due to bad quality of drugs and surgical instruments.

"Such kind of irresponsible act of state is not only failure of administration but also amounting to negligence on part of procurement of drugs and equipment and amounts to serious act of criminality against citizens," the petition said.

The petitioner has filed a PIL at the Patna High Court seeking direction for proper and independent enquiry either by CBI or any other independent agency regarding the irregularities committed in processing and purchasing of drugs and surgical items.

It was alleged that such action has led to mass corruption by the BMSICL, particularly in respect of their quality and quantity and rate of purchase, ignoring the standard of State Health Society, Bihar.

The petition alleged that irregularities were not only done with regard to purchase of bad quality of drugs and surgical instruments but was also done in the rate of purchase of drugs which were so high in respect of rate contract prescribed.