- (1.) In this writ petition challenge is made to the use of the drug 'Quinacrine' as a method of female sterilisation. Following prayer is made : "a) To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to initiate immediate steps to ban the use of Quinacrine in the form of pellets or otherwise as a method of sterilisation. b) To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to initiate proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 against all those engaged in the importation and/or manufacture, transmission, sale and use of Quinacrine in the form of pellets or otherwise as a method of sterilisation. c) To issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to issue a notification under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945, banning the use of Quinacrine as a method of sterilisation."
(2.) Counter affidavit on behalf of respondent No. 3 has been filed in court today through Ms. Kamini Jaiswal. The same is taken on record.
(3.) An affidavit has been filed by Shri Ashwini Kumar working in the office of the Directorate General of Health Services as Joint Drugs Controller (India).;