Bombay HC Upholds FDA Action in Spurious Anti-Venom Case Against Aarav Pharma
Bombay High Court
New Delhi: In a significant reaffirmation of regulatory authority in matters of public health and drug safety, the Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Aarav Pharma challenging a show-cause notice issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) over the alleged supply of spurious snake anti-venom vials to Goa's health authorities.
The High Court has directed the FDA to grant the pharma firm a personal hearing and pass an appropriate order within eight weeks, according to a recent media report by The Times of India.
As earlier reported by the Medical Dialogues Team, the petition was filed by the firm’s proprietor, Upendra Kumar Singh, who questioned the validity of the notice issued in connection with supplies made to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS).
The FDA’s show-cause notice alleges that the company supplied spurious snake anti-venom vials to the DHS and has asked the firm to explain why its drug licence should not be cancelled and why penal action should not be initiated.
Singh contended before the court that the notice was premature and issued without jurisdiction, and sought protection from coercive action.
Opposing the plea, the state government argued that Singh had approached the court without first responding to the show-cause notice, stressing that no final decision had yet been taken by the authorities. It maintained that the writ petition was therefore premature—a contention the court took into account.
Earlier, during the proceedings, the High Court had directed the petitioner to submit a reply to the notice and had declined to grant interim relief.
Meanwhile, a lower court is also hearing an anticipatory bail application filed by Singh in connection with the same case, reports TOI.
