Final order on Pharma Policy 2002 reserved again for November by Karnataka HC

Our Bureau, Bangalore

The Karnataka High Court has reserved the final hearing of the public interest litigation challenging the Pharma Policy 2002 for November. The date is yet to be announced. The judgment, which was posted for today, did not take place, as both the advocates did not appear in the court.

On October 22, 2002, the day scheduled for final judgement, the chief justice N.K.Jain reserved the order for October 30.

The advocate for the central government was Additional Solicitor General of India V T Gopalan along with Ashok Haranahalli.

It may be recalled that the writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India stated that if the Pharma Policy 2002 was allowed to be implemented, it would take the life saving and essential drugs out of the ambit of Drug Price Control Order which is detrimental to the interests of the poor in the country as also in violation of rights of the general public under Article 21 of the Constitution.