Sarthak Umang
Published on: 15 November 2022 at 18:59 IST
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal of Jammu & Kashmir administration against an order of the National Human Rights Commission to pay Rs. 3 lakhs to the guardian of 10 children who died in Udhampur district due to the consumption of spurious cough syrup.
The bench of Justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh were dealing with this matter and noted that officers were not performing their duty diligently.
“Your officers are found to be negligent. They ought to have been vigilant. Don’t
compel us to say things about food and industry departments.”
“The health of citizens is in their hands. They don’t perform any duties at all. They can’t play with the lives of citizens. It is their duty to check and verify things,”
The matter came before court after the plea was filed by J&K administration against the NHRC above-mentioned order was dismissed by the High Court.
Ten children died in the Ramnagar Tehsil of Udhampur in December 2019 and January 2020, due to the consumption of spurious cough syrup, The Jammu and the Kashmir government appealed that decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed it.
The NHRC found procedural lapses on the part of the Drugs Department. Also noted vicariously liability for the lapses on the part of the department and recommended compensation.