Bombay High Court
Mandir vs Union Of India on 23 June, 2010
Author: S. A. Bobde
Bench: S. A. Bobde, A. B. Chaudhari
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH AT NAGPUR
WRIT PETITION NO. 3256/2007
Shri Bharat Kandhari,
r/o 303, Mukta Nagar Apartment,
Opposite Pande Hospital, near Ahilya
Mandir, Dhantoli, Nagpur. .....PETITIONER
...V E R S U S...
1. Union of India, through Ministry of Public Health,
New Delhi as also through Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers, New Delhi.
2. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing
Authority having its office at 5th YMCA
Cultural Centre Building, 1, Jaising Road,
New Delhi 110 001.
3. The State of Maharashtra, through Department
of Medical Education and Drugs, Mantralaya,
Madam Cama Road, Mumbai - 32.
4. The Commissioner, Food & Drugs
Administration, Maharashtra State,
having his office at Survey No. 341,
Bandra Kurla Complex, 2nd floor,
Bandra East, Mumbai 400 051.
5. The Joint Commissioner, Nagpur
Division, Food & Drugs Administration,
Maharashtra State, Limbana Compound,
20 Mount Road, Sadar, Nagpur 440001
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6. Zota Pharma, Zota Pharmaceuticals
Pvt. Ltd. 8-G, 8th Floor, 560, Century
Plaza, Anna Salai, Trynampat Chennai-600 018.
7. Serdia Pharmaceuticals, Club Town
Housing Complex, VIP Road,
Teghoria, Block No. 4, Flat No.4-B,
Kolkata- 700 059.
8. Sanofi Aventis, S.C.O. No. 17,
Chandigarh- 141 010.
9. G.S.K. Pharma, Dr. Annie Besant
Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 025.
10. F.D.C. Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
142-48, S.V. Road, Yogeshwari
(West), Mumbai 400 102.
11. Biochem Pharmaceuticals,
D-1/71, Top Floor, Rohini,
Sector 16, Delhi 110 085.
12. Blue Cross Laboratories Ltd.
Peninsula Chambers, Ground
Floor, Lower Parel (West),
Mumbai 400 013.
13. Panacea Biotech Ltd.
B-1, Extension/A-27, Mohan
Co-opertive Industrial Society,
Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044
14. Aventis Pharma India Ltd.,
54/A Sir Mathuradas Vasanji Road,
Andheri (East), Mumbai-India
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15. Jajsonpal Pharmaceuticals,
T-210, J. Sahapur Jat, New Delhi.
16. Nicholas Piramal India Ltd.
First Floor, Peninsula Corporate Park,
G. K. Marg, Off Worli Naka, Mumbai.
17. Core Pharmaceuticals, Piramal
Health Care Ltd. Piramal Towers
Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower
Parel, Mumbai 400 013.
18. Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.
Merchantile Chambers, 3rd Floor,
12, J.N. Heredia Marg, Ballard
Estate, Mumbai 400 001.
19. Johnson & Johnson, Johnson &
Johnson Ltd. 30, Forjett Street,
Mumbai 400 036.
20. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals ltd.
Glenmark House, H.D.O. Corporate
Building, Wing A, B.D. Sawant Marg,
Chakala Off, Western Express Highway,
Andheri (East) Mumbai-400 099
21. USV Ltd. B.S. Devshi Marg Govandi,
Mumbai- India 400 088.
22. Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Chinubhi Centre,
Off Nehru Bridge, Aashram Road,
Ahmedabad-380 009 (GJ)
23. Sum Pharma, Acme Plaza, Andheri
Kurla Road, A ndheri (East) Mumbai 400 059.
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24. Pfizer, Pfizer Centre, 5 Patel Estate,
Mumbai 400 102.
25. Cipla Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Mumbai Central, Mumbai 400 008,
And also having its office at 289,
Belashis Road, Mumbai (India).
26. Ranbaxi Laboratories Ltd., Corporate Office,
Plot No. 90, Sector 32,
Gurgaon-122 001 (Haryana)
27. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., 7-1-27,
Ameerpet, Hyderabad 500 016 (India)
28. Novartis Health Care Pvt. Ltd.
Novartis India Ltd. Sandoz House,
7th Floor, Shivsagar Estate, Dr. Annie
Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai 400 018.
29. Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Torrent Power,
Torrent House, Off Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat- 380 009.
30. Zydus Cadila, Zydus Tower,
Sattelite Cross Road, Ahmedabad
380 015, India.
31. Ethnor India Ltd. 30-A, Forjeet
Street, Mumbai 400 036.
32. R.K.G. Pharma Pvt.Ltd. A-29,
Lajpat Nagar-II, New Delhi 110 001.
33. Micronova Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 3030,
Queens Road, Bangalore 560 001, Karnataka.
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34. Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Le Sante)
Cadila Corporate Campus, Sarkhej-
Dholka Road, Bhat, Ahmedabad 382 210.
35. Winsome Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.
B 257, Naraina Industrial Estate,
New Delhi 110 028, India. ....RESPONDENTS
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Mr. A. A. Naik, Amicus Curiae.
Ms Tajvar Khan, Advocate for respondent nos. 1 and 2.
Mr. P. D. Kothari, A.G.P. for respondent no.3 and 4.
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CORAM:- S. A. BOBDE & A. B. CHAUDHARI, JJ.
DATE :-
23 rd
June, 2010
ORAL JUDGMENT (Per:- S. A. Bobde, J.)
1. Rule. Rule returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the parties.
3. This petition involves question of regulation of prices of certain drugs and medicines manufactured in India with a view that such drugs are made available to the consumers at the lowest possible price.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 64. Mr. Naik, the learned Amicus Curiae, pointed out from Annexure-A to the petition, a list of drugs, which clearly shows a wide disparity in the prices of drugs merely because they are manufactured by different companies. The said list is reproduced below:-
DRUG NAME COMPANY NAME QUANTITY CURRENT PRICE Cetrizine 10 mg (Anti Allergic Tablet) Alzine (Core) ig 10's 7.80 Hicet (Micronova) 10's 14.80 Cetrizet (Sun) 10's 34.00 Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (Antibiotic Tablets) Zoxan (FDC) 10's 44.75 Biocip (Biochem) 10's 49.95 Clfran (Ranbaxy) 10's 89.60 Flunarizine 10 mg (Migraine) Migon (Le Sante) 10's 19.90 Migraid (Cipla) 10's 20.25 Slblium (Johnson & 10's 52.00 Johnson) Gabapentin 300 mg (Anticonvulsant) Gabapin (Instas) 10's 98.00 Neurontin (Pfizer) 10's 312.87 Gliclazide 80 mg (Anti Diabetic) Glycor (USV) 10's 23.65 Lycazid (Jagsonpal) 10's 31.00 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 7 Diamicron (Serdia) 10's 63.00 Reflunomide 10 mg (Used in Rhumatoid Arthritis) Rumalef (Zydus Cadila) 10's 80 Arava (Aventis) 10's 440.00 Levocetrizine 5 mg (Antiallergic) 1-AL (FDC) 10's 9.50 Airitis (NPIL) 10's 35.65 Vozet (GSK) 10's 46.00 Ofloxacin 200 mg (Antibiotic) ZO FDC 10's 29.00 Zocin Z-Flox Winsame Zota Pharma 10's 10's 39.00 54.90 Varflox Zota HC 10's 60.00 Tarivid Aventis 10's 310.64 Pioglitazone 15 mg (Antidiabetic) K-Pio Blue Cross 10's 9.00 Diaglit Biochem 10's 18.00 Bioglita Biochem 10's 19.98 Pepar Glenmark 10's 22.70 Oglo Panacea 10's 37.00 Ploz USV 10's 50.00 Plozone NIPL 10's 60.00 Ramipril 5 mg (Anti hypertensive) Odipril (Blue Cross) 10's 23.00 Ziram (FDC) 10's 34.00 Hopecard (Aristo) 10's 49.20 Topril (Torrent) 10's 70.16 ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 8 Ramey (Zydus Cadila) 10's 82.50 Cardace (Sanofi Avantis) 10's 97.03 Risperidone 2 mg (Antipsychotic) Risdone (Intas) 10's 10.40 Rapidon (RKG Pharma) 10's 13.00 Risnia (Cipla-Protec) 10's 15.50 Riosperdal (Ethnor) 10's 270.00 Thyroxine 100 mcg (Thyroid Patients) Roxin (Zydus Cadila) 10's 18.00 Eltroxin 10's 74.00 Valzaar Valsartan 80 mg Mg (Anti Hypertensive) (Torrent) 10's 59.20 Starval (Ranbaxy) 10's 69.00 Diovan (Novartis) 10's 410.00 Zoledronic Acid 4 mg (Tumour treatment) Zolaria (Cipla) 1vial 2800.00 Blazetere (Dr. Reddy) 1 vial 3299.00 Zometa (Vonartis) 1 vial 12,500.00
5. From the above list, it is clear that there is wide disparity between the prices of the same medicines because they are manufactured and marketed by different companies. For instance, 1 vial of Zolria manufactured by Cipla is Rs. 2800 and 1 vial of Zometa manufactured by Vonartis is Rs. 12,500/-, which is having ::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 9 Zoledronic Acid 4 mg, a drug for tumour treatment. Mr. Naik, the learned Amicus Curiae, pointed out that it is the experience of patients that when they go to the counter to buy a particular medicine/drug, they are often told that the brand, which is relatively inexpensive and affordable, is not available and only the expensive brand is available.
This, obviously, adds to the burden to the poor man, who is already suffering from some ailment. It is seen from the above that there is huge price variation between two brands of the same drug. Such practice is a matter of public concern and certainly a matter of public interest within the meaning of Rule 10 (b) of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995, which reads as follows:-
"10. Power to revise price of bulk drugs and formulations.- Not-withstanding anything contained in this Order,-
(a) .....
(b) the Government may, if it considers necessary so to do in public interest, after calling for such information by order fix or revise the retain price of any formulation including a non-scheduled formulation;::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 10
Clause (b) referred to above specifically empowers the Government to revise the retail price of any formulation including a non scheduled formulation. It is common ground that the formulations referred to above are non scheduled formulation.
6. Ms Tajvar Khan, learned counsel for respondent nos. 1 and 2, submits that the petitioner has not brought these discrepancies to the notice of the Authorities and, therefore, there has been no occasion to exercise the power conferred by Rule 10 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. The learned counsel for the respondent nos. 1 and 2 does not dispute the fact that these drugs are covered by Rule 10 (b) and the Government has power to revise the retail price.
7. In the circumstances, we consider it appropriate to direct the respondents to consider the discrepancy in prices of the drugs as set out hereinabove and pass a reasoned order, after hearing the petitioner and the manufacturers, in accordance with law, and communicate the said order to the concerned.
::: Downloaded on - 09/06/2013 16:03:05 ::: 11The respondents are directed to submit a compliance report to this Court after the aforesaid exercise is completed, within a period of six months from today.
Rule made absolute in the above terms. No order as to costs.
Steno copy of this order be given to the learned counsel for the parties to act upon.
JUDGE JUDGE
kahale
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