JAMMU, Oct 1: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the concerned authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct an enquiry into the case of four children from Ramnagar Tehsil of Udhampur district who allegedly suffered permanent disabilities after consuming contaminated “Cold Best-PC” cough syrup during the 2019–20 tragedy.
The direction has come on a complaint pursued by senior social and health activist Sukesh C. Khajuria, seeking adequate compensation, medical care and rehabilitation for the four surviving children.
The NHRC has directed the concerned authority to conduct an enquiry in association with the complainant/victims, take appropriate action in accordance with law and inform the complainant about the action taken. An Action Taken Report (ATR) has been sought within four weeks.
The complaint states that although the four children survived the tragedy, they were left with permanent disabilities. Disability certificates issued by the Chief Medical Officer, Udhampur, were also placed on record in support of their cases.
The matter relates to Cold Best-PC syrup manufactured by Digital Vision, Kala Amb, Himachal Pradesh. Laboratory findings cited in the complaint had detected 34.24% w/v Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in a tested sample of the syrup. DEG is a toxic industrial chemical and is unsafe for human consumption.
The contaminated cough syrup tragedy had earlier resulted in the deaths of children in the Ramnagar area during December 2019 and January 2020. In the earlier proceedings, the NHRC had found lapses on the part of the J&K Drugs Department and directed payment of ₹3 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the deceased children. The challenge to the NHRC order was subsequently dismissed by the hon’ble High court of J&K and Ladakh.
Mr. Khajuria has maintained that while compensation was granted in the cases involving deaths, the surviving children who have been left with lifelong disabilities also require adequate financial assistance, continuing medical care and rehabilitation.
He has further sought fixation of responsibility for regulatory lapses and strengthening of the drug-quality testing, surveillance and enforcement mechanism so that such tragedies are not repeated.
The latest intervention of the NHRC has once again brought the condition of the surviving victims before the human rights watchdog and placed the matter before the J&K authorities for enquiry and appropriate action.
It is pertinent to clarify that the NHRC, at this stage, has ordered an enquiry and sought an Action Taken Report within four weeks. The Commission has not yet awarded compensation to the four surviving children in the present proceedings.