The Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) commissioner Dr S P Adeshera has submitted his resignation to the government with a three months notice period ending first week of December 2007.

The government is yet to accept the resignation, it is learnt. Well wishers of Adeshera, from industry associations and the consumer groups in the state through advertisements and memorandums, have asked the government not to accept the resignation, according to FDCA sources.

However sources said that Adeshera resorted to this step following allegations regarding his sacking of some drug inspectors. "Certain lobbies have raised allegation against the commissioner, as he has taken action on some drug inspectors for their suspicious connection with the spurious drug manufacturing lobbies," they said.

Nevertheless, Adeshara refuted the rumours saying that his resignation has no connection with any allegations. He said that the industry, colleagues and government has supported him wholeheartedly and he is grateful for the affection the industry has shown to him in the past years.

Commenting on his resignation, Adeshera said "I have done whatever I could to betterment the drug control administration of Gujarat. Now it is the time to put my efforts into something else." He added that the future plans for him are yet to be decided and will continue to work with FDCA till the end of three months notice period.

Adeshera has taken charge as FDCA commissioner in Gujarat - the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing state in the country - in 1st August 1997. He was working as Joint Commissioner of the administration from 1990, and had active role in various policy and administration related renovations of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

He has been working either as a chairman or a member of the committees constituted by the central government to decide various regulatory related issues in pharmaceutical sector. He is the chairman for the sub committee under Drug Consultative Committee (DCC) to examine erythromycin formulation, bulk drugs etc., Sub Committee to examine the recommendation of sub-committee on Good Laboratory Practices, chairman with zonal committee for identification and elimination of spurious drugs, Western Zone (CDSCO) under NPPA.

With a large number of pharmaceutical manufacturers in the country, Gujarat was the pioneer in completing implementation of revised Schedule M standards in manufacturing facilities in 2006. The FDCA is also in the final stage of implementing a fully computerised data management and licensing system soon. With this, the state FDA will be the first drug control machinery to implement a fully automated licensing system in the country, according to sources.