Karnataka govt to seek special court for hearing fake medicine cases

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, March 18, 2025: The government will submit a proposal seeking establishment of a special court to hear cases related to supply of fake drugs and medicines, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the Legislative Council on Monday.

Replying to a question raised by Congress member S Ravi about the action taken against supplies of fake medicines, Rao said that judgment in such cases is being delayed. “Even courts have not taken such cases seriously and sitting in the court for 6 to 8 hours is the only punishment for them (accused in the cases) now,” the minister said.

He said the department is making sure the company which supplies fake medicine suffers financially. “We are also bringing in drug recall policy so that fake medicine suppliers/manufacturers suffer financially.”

According to the data furnished to the House, a total of 20 cases have been registered in the last three years against the companies which supplied fake medicines.

Expressing unhappiness over the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) for granting stay in most cases, Rao said, that KAT grants stay for anyone. When the doctors on deputation to Food Safety department were repatriated to hospitals, they approached KAT which granted them a stay saying these doctors were transferred in the middle of the year.

“We will take steps to get the stay vacated. The services of these doctors are required in hospitals and they don’t need to be doctors to work as food safety officers,” the minister said. Replying to a question by JD(S)’ T A Saravana, the minister said 27 doctors had been serving as Food Safety officers on deputation.