The yearlong stalemate over appointment of State Licensing Authority (SLA) for Kerala Ayush Department, which was caught in a tussle between the government and the previous SLA, Prof. Dr N Vimala, ended on May 18 with the government appointing her as the Head of Department (HoD) of Rasa Shastra (Alchemy) at the Government Ayurveda College in the state capital.
 
Dr. Vimala was on deputation at the drugs control department from 2008 onwards in the capacity of deputy drugs controller with charge of SLA for Ayush. She re-joined at her parent department, Ayurveda Medical Education, on May 18 itself as the new HoD.
 
With this the year long crisis that prevailed in the Ayurveda Drugs Control Department in Kerala has come to an end.

According to reliable sources, government is in hectic preparation to appoint a new Licensing Authority for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy and Homoeopathy systems, which was vacant from May 12, 2017. It is learnt that Prof. Dr P Sreekumar, HoD of Rasa Shastra from the Government Ayurveda College at Tripunithura is likely to be appointed as the new SLA on deputation.
 
Revi Menon, state drugs controller, under whom the Ayush drugs control administration is functioning, said there is legal hurdle for appointing senior drug inspectors from Ayurveda side as SLA. Special Rule has to be framed by the government for promotional appointment.
 
The imbroglio in the department happened on May 12, 2017 with the removal of Dr Vimala from the post of SLA and the charge of administration was given to the state drugs controller. Taking this action of the government as an unfair treatment, Dr N Vimala, approached State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) seeking a direction to the government for her reinstatement. On January 15, 2018, the SAT directed the government to allow Dr Vimala to continue as the deputy drugs controller with charge of SLA till a new officer is appointed by complying with selection norms as framed by the government.
 
Meanwhile, in a special order issued by the government on September 29 last year, the department of health appointed a senior drug inspector with experience in industry inspections as SLA until a special rule is framed by the government for promoting departmental staff. Against this move, Dr Vimala further approached the SAT which directed the government to quash the interim appointment of new SLA. Accordingly, the government withdrew its temporary order appointing the senior drug inspector as licensing authority.
 
This has led to a turf battle between the government and Dr. Vimala, and cases were pending with the Tribunal till May 16 this year. It is learnt that the state government has reached an understanding with Dr. Vimala and on her consent she has been sent back to her parent department to one promotional post, as HoD. She will retire from service in next March.
 
The crisis in the department had actually compounded the problems in the Ayush industry which comprises more than 800 big and small manufacturing units. Due to lack of licensing system, the industry was facing operational crisis for the last one year. The situation has led north Indian companies to make attempts to dominate the traditional drug market in Kerala.