Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has given a representation to the Karnataka government to re-designate the post of drugs controller as drugs controller (administration) in the Karnataka State Civil Services Recruitment Rules (KSCSRR). The designation change will leave the post open to officers from Indian civil services and thereby ensuring that the incumbent drugs controller, an IPS officer, continues to hold office.

The decision by the Association should be viewed against the likelihood of transferring of the state drugs controllers who are non-pharmacy graduates following the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) demand to select a qualified candidate through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the recommendations of the Mashelkar Committee on the drug regulatory structure of the country.

V Harikrishnan, president of BDCDA, in his representation to Dr S Subramanya (IAS), health secretary, Government of Karnataka, requested to overlook the CAT order in the case of the present Karnataka drugs controller, Dr Suresh K Muhammed, because he is instrumental in bringing about positive changes in the department like total transparency and clean administration which improved the departmental functioning and provided a boost to the pharmacy trade in Karnataka.

According to the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Service Drugs Control Department (non-teaching staff) recruitment rules 2002 under sub-section (2) of Section 3 of the Karnataka State Civil Services Act, 1978, (Karnataka Act 14 of 1990) in Notification No. DPAR 59 SRD 2000, dated 16.3.2002, in para IV-A of the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary dated 16.3.2002, "Method of recruitment for the Drugs Controller is by promotion and by selection from the cadre of Additional Drugs Controller with a minimum qualification specified under 50-A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules 1945. If no suitable person is available for promotion, an officer of equivalent grade from the government of India can be deputed."

The interim report submitted by Lok Ayukta to the government of Karnataka ordered for a change in total administration and working of the drugs control department. After the Lok Ayukta report, the State government has deputed an IPS officer who is also a doctor by profession as the Drugs Controller of Karnataka.

Meanwhile Premanand Shetty, former Karnataka drugs controller has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the deputation of an IPS officer as the drugs controller.