|
Acting decisively under the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukti Bharat Abhiyan’ and explicit directions from FDA Commissioner Manoj Kumar, the drug control administration (DCA) in Haryana executed a major, coordinated inspection drive in Sirsa district on November 3.
The operation specifically targeted chemist shops engaged in illegal sale of intoxicants, including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS) and dual-use drugs. This concentrated enforcement effort resulted in the immediate sealing of 16 medical shops found in contravention of regulations, marking a significant success in the state’s fight against pharmaceutical misuse.
The large-scale operation mobilized a significant regulatory force, with 35 Senior Drugs Control Officers (SDCOs) along with Drugs Control Officers (DCOs) converging in Sirsa from various zones and districts. Eight specialized teams were constituted to carry out the surprise checks across key areas including Kalanwali, Baragudha, Dabwali, Rania, Ellenabad, and Local Sirsa. The raids, which spanned from 11:30 AM until 6:00 PM, were closely supervised and monitored by Lalit Kumar Goel, the State Drugs Controller for Haryana, alongside Assistant State Drugs Controllers (ASDCs) Parjinder Singh, Karan Singh Godara, and Rakesh Dahiya from the DCA Headquarters.
This latest Sirsa raid is part of an increasingly aggressive and systematic regulatory approach adopted by the Haryana DCA. Just weeks prior, in September, the state played a pivotal role in strengthening regional enforcement when SDC Lalit Kumar Goel led a successful proposal for the formation of an interstate coordination committee among drug controllers from five northern states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. This inter-state body was specifically established to facilitate intelligence sharing and joint operations necessary to dismantle cross-border rackets involved in the sale of counterfeit and psychotropic drugs.
In October, the DCA’s enhanced vigilance expanded beyond the illicit sale of psychotropic drugs to address deep-seated issues in quality control. Following national alerts concerning fatal contamination, the Haryana FDA escalated its state-wide scrutiny to include ayurvedic medicine manufacturers. SDC Lalit Goel issued a ‘Most Urgent’ directive mandating stringent testing and security protocols, especially for solvents like propylene glycol (PG), to ensure the complete absence of toxic industrial chemicals like diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) in traditional Indian medicines.
Furthermore, as a structural response to securing the pharmaceutical supply chain, the Haryana DCA simultaneously enforced a massive regulatory overhaul by launching a new digital monitoring system. This system requires manufacturers to register and track high-risk pharmaceutical solvents like PG and glycerin on the Online National Drug Licensing System (ONDLS) portal. This mandatory batch-level tracking, which involves uploading comprehensive Certificates of Analysis (CoA) for all materials, positions Haryana at the forefront of states attempting to secure zero tolerance for toxic contamination incidents.
Monday’s high-profile Sirsa operation, which saw 67 medical shops inspected, underscores that the department is simultaneously deploying both high-level regulatory reforms and vigorous on-the-ground enforcement. The fact that 16 shops were sealed, primarily for the non-submission of mandated sale records for intoxicants, illustrates the critical need for improved accountability at the retail level, complementing the broader strategy of digital tracking and interstate cooperation championed by the state drugs controller's office.
Moving forward, the SDC’s office has confirmed that it will be issuing mandatory Show Cause Notices to all the inspected medical stores found to be in violation. Stricter punitive action against the sealed and non-compliant establishments will be taken without delay under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules 1945. These actions reinforce the department’s multi-pronged and ongoing commitment to eliminating drug misuse and securing a contamination-free drug ecosystem for the citizens of Haryana.
|