Three persons, one from Karimnagar district and two from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, have been sentenced to simple imprisonment and slapped fines for selling medicines and drugs without proper drug licences.

In two different cases, Judicial first Class Magistrate (JFCM) courts in Karimnagar and Srikakulam districts of Andhra Pradesh have convicted three persons for violating section 18 (C) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and selling drugs without licences.

In the first case, the JFCM court in Karimnagar had convicted A Krishan of Vemulawada mandal for selling drugs without holding any drug licences and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for three years and pay a fine of Rs. 1 lakh for violating section 18 (C) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940.

In the second case, the JFCM court in Srikakulam district has convicted two persons one K Raja Sekhar and G Prasanna Lakshmi of New Venkata Sai Durga Medical & General Stores for dispensing the drugs without drug licences. In this case the court had sentenced them to undergo a punishment of one year simple imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs. 7000 each.

According to Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 under section 18 (C) any person who violates it and sells drugs without a valid license as required under clause C of section 18, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than five thousand rupees.

A few months back the DCA (Drug Control Administration) had conducted raids on pharmacy stores across the state and had booked cases against the violators who have been selling drugs without holding any drug licences from the authorities.

“We will not spare anyone who violates the law. Those who violates will be booked under the drugs and cosmetics act and will be punished accordingly. We are on the regular vigil and in every district the concerned officers have been alerted to check violations by the pharmacy stores,” informed R P Thakur, director general, APDCA.