Punjab Halts Sale of Coldrif Syrup as Supreme Court PIL Seeks Nationwide Probe

Punjab government has banned the sale and use of Coldrif cough syrup following the tragic deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to the consumption of the contaminated medicine. The move comes as part of a broader crackdown, with states like Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand also imposing restrictions on the syrup’s distribution due to its alleged toxicity.

The crisis has sparked outrage and prompted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court by advocate Vishal Tiwari, demanding a court-monitored investigation into the deaths and a complete overhaul of India’s drug safety mechanisms. The PIL calls for the establishment of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, to probe the regulatory failures that allowed substandard medicines to reach the market. It also urges the transfer of all related investigations to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure fairness and uniformity, citing fragmented state-level probes that have failed to hold culprits accountable.

In Madhya Pradesh, where the tragedy unfolded, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed authorities to cover the full cost of treatment for children suffering from kidney infections caused by the syrup in Chhindwara and Betul districts. A joint team of executive magistrates and doctors has been deployed to hospitals in Nagpur to coordinate with affected families and ensure proper medical care. However, the opposition Congress party has slammed the state government, alleging negligence and demanding a judicial probe into the deaths, strict action against those responsible, and adequate compensation for the victims’ families. Congress leaders, including Umang Singhar and Tika Ram Jully, claimed that 16 children died in Chhindwara alone and accused the BJP-led governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan of shielding the pharmaceutical companies involved. They also criticized the meager Rs 4 lakh compensation offered to families, questioning, “Is this the price of a mother’s empty lap?”

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Adding to the controversy, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has fiercely defended a Chhindwara-based pediatrician, Dr. Praveen Soni, who was arrested for alleged negligence in prescribing the syrup. The IMA argues that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and Madhya Pradesh’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) failed to monitor the concentration of Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic substance found in the syrup. “Arresting a doctor who prescribed an approved drug sends a wrong message and intimidates the medical profession,” the IMA stated, calling the arrest a “classic example of legal illiteracy” by authorities. The association demanded immediate action against the manufacturers and regulatory bodies, as well as compensation for the affected families and the doctor, who they claim is a victim of defamation.

The Punjab FDA’s order, issued on Monday, declared Coldrif syrup as “not of standard quality” based on findings from Madhya Pradesh’s drugs testing laboratory. The PIL further demands mandatory toxicological testing of all suspect products through NABL-accredited laboratories before they are sold or exported, highlighting repeated lapses in the drug regulatory system that have endangered lives.

The Congress has also called for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the central and state governments of failing to act despite warnings from local leaders. They pointed out that no tests were conducted even as children’s kidneys were failing, raising serious questions about oversight and accountability. The opposition has also demanded government jobs for a member of each affected family to support them in the wake of their loss.

This tragedy has exposed deep flaws in India’s drug regulatory framework, leaving families devastated and communities demanding justice. As investigations continue, the nation awaits answers on how such a catastrophic failure was allowed to occur and what steps will be taken to prevent future tragedies.

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