Ayurvedic medicine case: Himachal Pradesh High Court seeks reply from state by September 30

Posted on: 17 Sep 2011, 05:14 PM

ShareThis

Previous Next

HP Ayurvedic medicine case reaches court

Shimla: In a move that may sicken the Department of Ayurved in the state, the High Court has taken cognizance of the purchase of medicines for Ayurvedic hospitals at a high price from outside the state. The court, further pronounced an order asking the state government to state the reasons behind the cited irregularities. A bench of Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rajiv Sharma, while hearing a petition filed by the Himachal Pradesh Ayurvedic Manufacturing Association, directed the state to file their response alongwith an affidavit to the Ayurved Director by September 30. In the petition it has been alleged that Director of Ayurved Department, misusing his powers bought medicines from companies outside the state. According to the rules, the state has to purchase 70 percent of the required medicines from companies within the state and for rest of the medicines the government can go for companies outside the state. However, the director allegedly flouting the norms bought medicines worth Rs 8-9 crore. Giving clarification in this regard, it was stated that the medicines were bought with the Centres granted financial aid without overruling the rules laid by the Centre. However, the petitioner has argued that there is no provision in the Central rules citing that the medicines can be bought only from companies based outside the state. As per the applicant, the purchase orders based on 2009 quotations were sent through fax. No tenders were invited in this regard. In addition the PIL stated the Director Ayurveda had no knowledge about the quality of drugs as he fulfill the qualifications required for a Director under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. The petitioner has also pleaded to the court to direct the state government to hand over the investigation of the case of purchase of medicines done in 2010-2011 to an independent investigating agency. (JPN/ Bureau)

The Tribune
Purchase of Ayurvedic Drugs by Director

High Court summons record

Vijay Arora Shimla, October 24 The state high court today summoned the record of the alleged purchase of ayurvedic drugs by the Director, Ayurveda, on higher prices. The court passed this order after perusing the rejoinder filed by the petitioner, the HP Ayurvedic Manufacturing Association, wherein it further alleged that the department had purchased the medicines by violating the norms of the Centre. However, the state has contended in its reply before the court that the department had not violated any norms. It further contended that the medicines were not purchased on higher prices and refuted the allegations made by the association. While passing this order, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Kurian Joseph further listed the matter for November 11. The court passed this order on a petition filed by the association in which it was alleged that ayurvedic medicines were purchased by the Director, Ayurveda, in violation of the rules. It was further alleged that as per the relevant rules 70 per cent of drugs were purchased from state manufacturing units and 30 per cent from out of the state. The petitioner has further alleged that while purchasing the drugs, the Director had manipulated the rules to purchase the drugs at higher rates from outside. According to the petitioner, the department had shown undue haste in purchase of drugs in such a manner that no tender was floated and the purchase order was placed. It was further alleged that on the basis of quotation and prices of 2009, the purchase order was placed through fax and they were asked to make the supply.