Chemists halt sale of psychotropic drugs, Panchkula shops to remain shut from today
Chemists across Haryana have decided to stop the sale and distribution of psychotropic and prescription drugs in protest against the seizures conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on some Panchkula-based wholesalers. All existing stocks of these drugs will be returned to distributors over the next week, while the association’s executive council will meet on March 16 in Kurukshetra to decide future course of action.
Licensed chemists being targeted
There are individuals who don't have licence but are running shops in every city. While they remain untouched, those having valid licences are being proceeded against under the NDPS Act despite having no irregularities in their records. – Manjeet Sharma, state chemists' association president
In Panchkula, all chemist shops will remain shut indefinitely from tomorrow as part of the protest against the raids, which have been ongoing for the past three days.
Ashok Singla, general secretary of the state chemists’ association and zonal president, said, “Chemists are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, under the State Drugs Controller, FDA Haryana. If these unwarranted raids and harassment continue, we will be unable to carry out our duties or do business in the state. The Panchkula unit has submitted a memorandum to the government and we will finalise our next steps in the March 16 meeting. Until then, chemists across Haryana have been advised to halt the sale of psychotropic drugs and return their stock to distributors.”
State chemists’ association president Manjeet Sharma alleged that licensed chemists were being unfairly targeted while individuals who don't have licence and running shops continued to operate freely. “There are individuals who don't have licence but are running shops in every city. While they remain untouched, those having valid licences are being proceeded against under the NDPS Act despite having no irregularities in their records. Even life-saving allopathic medicines are being seized by the Bureau without valid reasons,” he claimed.
Sanjeev Goyal, general secretary of the Panchkula unit, confirmed that an indefinite bandh had been called, with a memorandum submitted to the district administration. He said, “None of these drugs fall exclusively under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. They are classified as ‘drugs’ under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, yet we are being penalised unfairly.”
Meanwhile, the State Drug Controller’s office has informed the government that these raids are being conducted as per court directions. Officials revealed that the CBI had initially sought details of the sale of these drugs and later involved the NCB after discovering an unlicensed dealer in possession of them.
The findings of the raids will be submitted in the high court on the next date of hearing.
