Cough syrup-linked deaths: Do you realise what dent it caused to country’s image, Supreme Court asks pharma firm

“Do you know how much damage this does to the country’s image?” The Supreme Court on Thursday, February 19, 2026, issued a request to a pharmaceutical company whose cough syrups allegedly resulted in the deaths of more than 18 children in Uzbekistan.

Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi refused to overturn the order summoning the firm and some of its officials on a complaint alleging various violations, including production and sale of drugs declared “not of standard quality”.

Bench said, “Are you into this business just for the sake of money? That’s why the image of the nation has been damaged.” The company’s lawyer and officials said there was no record showing that syrup consumption caused any death.

“Do you know how much damage this does to the country’s image?” he asked. The top court refused to interfere with the Allahabad High Court order rejecting the pleas filed by the firm and some of its officials challenging a summons order issued by the Gautam Buddha Nagar Chief Magistrate in January 2024.

The Chief Justice had given the order in a complaint case filed under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 in Noida. The top court was hearing a plea filed against the Supreme Court order.

A complaint was filed by the drug inspector alleging various violations, including the production and sale of drugs declared “not of standard quality”, as well as invoking sections on adulteration and counterfeit drugs, procedural irregularities and responsibilities of company officials.

In its judgment, the High Court noted that the case was based primarily on a test analysis report declaring that certain samples were “not of standard quality”, which led to prosecution under the relevant Criminal Sections of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.

During the arguments before the Supreme Court on the issue, the lawyer acting on behalf of the Center claimed that the syrup produced by the company was found poisonous in Uzbekistan and that it resulted in the death of more than 18 children.

While the Supreme Court rejected the requests objecting to the subpoena decision, it ruled that there was no unlawfulness or irregularity in the subpoena decision given by the magistrate.