The Supreme Court on April 30 came down heavily on the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority (SLA) for its inaction against Patanjali Ayurved for close to six years.
A bench of justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah made it clear that the authorities seem to have acted only after the apex court started hearing the case. SC remarked, "When you want to move, you move like lightning! And when you don't want to you don't. In three days flat, you have done all that you needed to do. But you should have done all that much earlier."
The court also noted that the affidavit filed by SLA did not contain precise details of actions taken by the authority on complaints prior to this, it also found that the statements made regarding its actions were not backed up by enough details.
Furthermore, the court questioned an officer who had held the position for almost four years as to what actions he had taken to justify his position in the government.
Noting that the central government had forwarded a complaint to the present officer in charge, Dr. Swastik Suresh, the court asked him what enquiry had been done and what report had been filed. The court then heard senior advocate Dhruv Mehta on this, but it wasn't satisfied with the responses.
The court also proceeded to speak to the officer who was present in the court hall. However, the court subsequently decided to permit the officer to file another affidavit as its intention was not to unnerve the officer.
Thus, the court in its order noted: "It appears from affidavits that authorities got activated to take action in accordance of law only after Court order of April 10. Be that as it may, as requested by counsel, additional affidavits permitted to be filed within 10 days."
The above transpired after the Supreme Court on April 10 noted that Uttarakhand licensing authority was merely pushing files and did nothing. "The state authorities are hand in glove with the contemnors.
We have strong objection to the use of the word 'bonafide' for officers. We are not going to take lightly. We will rip you apart," the SC had observed.
Supreme Court pulled up Uttarakhand government for not taking action against Patanjali Ayurved for violation of law.
"The licensing inspector remained quiet, there is no report by the officer. The concerned officers should be suspended," the apex court said.
Supreme Court ordered that all the officers who held posts as district Ayurvedic and Unani officers in Haridwar from 2018 till now shall file replies on actions taken by them.
The case will now come up for hearing on May 14.
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