The State Licensing Authority of Pondicherry has resumed issuing of licenses and product endorsement certificates to pharma manufacturers and traders last week. Following a petition filed with the Central Administrative Tribunal by a suspended drug inspector having additional powers of SLA, the issuance of licenses from the authority had ceased for a few months. This has been creating difficulties to the industry and the trade in the Union Territory.

A Karunakaran, secretary of Pondicherry Drug Manufacturers Association (PDMA) said the industry was facing grave problems for the last six to seven months because of non-issuance of licenses. "We have made several representations to the Directorate of Medical Services and to the Health Secretary. Many meetings were also held in this regard. The situation had seriously hit 100 odd manufacturing units in the Union Territory," he said.

Assistant Commissioner in charge of Drugs Control Department, M Deenadayalan said the functioning of the SLA has already started and manufacturers and traders have started getting licenses from the office.

He said, "Previously the charge of state drug licensing authority was given additionally to M Dhanasekharan, a drug inspector. But, because of his misdemeanour in the office, he had to be suspended from service as per Central government employees Conduct Rules. Before suspension, the government had taken back the additional powers given to him and handed over to P Rajkumar, a senior staff in the public health laboratory. Following this Dhanasekharan had filed a petition with the Central Administrative Tribunal seeking a stay order for the withdrawal of additional powers."

Later the CAT has issued a stay order and asked the government to file a counter. As per the direction of the CAT, the government has filed the counter and as a result the stay has been vacated. "Now Rajkumar is in charge of SLA and his office has started to issue licenses and other certificates," Deenadayalan said.

The new licensing authority, Rajkumar was working as a chemist in the government owned drug manufacturing company in Pondicherry. When it was closed he joined the public health laboratory.