Supreme Court relief for doctor over stocking of medicines
New Delhi, February 17
Holding that a doctor stocking small amounts of medicines without disclosing the source does not endanger the public, the Supreme Court (SC) has set aside a six-month jail term imposed on him for possession of a small quantity of unlicenced medicines and instead slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh fine on him.
“We are of view that imposing a sentence of imprisonment would be unjustified, particularly when the intent to sell/distribute under Section 18(c) of the Act has been held unproven. Therefore, we find it fit to modify the impugned judgment, set aside the sentence of imprisonment as awarded, and instead impose a fine of Rs 1,00,000 on the appellant,” a Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sanjay Karol said in its February 14 order.
Urging the court to modify the sentence of imprisonment to that of a fine, the appellant had submitted that being a doctor, Dr Palani had no intention to contravene the law and undertake any action which may be scuttling the statutory provisions.
