Supreme Court / Case of children dying after consuming cough syrup reaches SC- demand for seizure of all stock

Supreme Court: The case of children dying from consuming 'Coldrif' cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan has now reached the Supreme Court. Lawyer Vishal Tiwari has filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court regarding this serious matter, demanding a CBI investigation and the seizure of the cough syrup's stock.

18 Children Die Due to Toxic Cough Syrup

According to official data, 18 children have died so far in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after consuming 'Coldrif' cough syrup. Sixteen of these deaths were reported in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh and two in Bharatpur and Sikar in Rajasthan. Investigations revealed that the syrup contained 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical that causes kidney failure. This chemical has proven fatal for children, and the deaths continue unabated.

What is the demand in the public interest litigation?

The following are the key demands in the PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari:

• CBI investigation: All relevant FIRs should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• Supervision by a retired Supreme Court judge: The investigation into the manufacturing, regulation, testing, and distribution of cough syrups should be conducted under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.
• National Investigation Committee: A thorough investigation into this matter should be conducted by the National Judicial Commission or an expert committee.
• Seizure of syrup stocks: All existing stocks of the banned 'Coldrif' cough syrup should be immediately seized.

What action has been taken so far?

The central and state governments have taken some steps in this matter:

• Central government action: Risk-based inspections have been initiated at 19 drug manufacturing units in six states.
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): Notices have been issued to the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, directing them to conduct an immediate investigation and ban counterfeit drugs.
• State Governments Responsible: Local authorities in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have begun testing syrup samples, but no concrete results have yet been released.

Why are children's lives at risk?

The high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) found in 'Coldrif' cough syrup have proven fatal for children. This chemical, when ingested, causes severe kidney damage, leading to kidney failure and death. Experts say that negligence in drug manufacturing and a lack of quality control are the main causes of this tragedy.