Chemists meet magistrate, raise objections to drug seizures in Panchkula dist

Members of the District Chemists Association, Panchkula, met the city Magistrate on Wednesday, raising strong objections over recent seizure of large quantities of allopathic medicines by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). They alleged that the action was taken without citing any reasons, and no seizure memo or official documentation was provided at the time of confiscation of drugs.

Following their meeting with the magistrate, chemists submitted a formal letter to the Deputy Commissioner through him, urging immediate intervention. The letter highlighted that the affected dealers hold valid drug licences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act (D&C Act) and had been operating in compliance with all regulatory norms. While expressing concerns chemists said despite following legal procedures, they were being summoned under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, forcing them to appear before NCB officials in Mohali.

Association president Mohinder Kakkar said, “Chemists have been running their businesses legally for years, and such actions were unjustified.” Chemists warned that if such seizures continued, they would have no option, but to shut down their establishments, which could severely impact the supply of essential medicines in Panchkula. They urged the authorities concerned to protect legitimate medicine dealers from what they called unlawful actions.