JAMMU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has closed the case of monetary compensation to the kin of the 12 infants who had died after consuming spurious cough syrup in Ramnagar in Udhampur district between December 2019 and January 2020. The closure came after the J&K administration paid compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the parents of the deceased infants following directions of the commission.
Social activist Sukesh C Khajuria, who had approached NHRC in the case, on Wednesday said that the commission in its proceedings on February 28, 2022, had observed that since the monetary compensation to parents of the victims had been paid as demanded by the petitioner, the case had been closed.
NHRC had ordered the J&K government to pay compensation to the victims in January 2021. It was further directed that the compliance report along with proof of payment be made available to the commission within six weeks. However, the administration issued an order for the release of Rs 36 lakh for the victims only in November 2021.
The spurious cough syrup was manufactured by M/s Digital Vision, Kala Amb, in Himachal Pradesh. NHRC in its order had observed that there was no denial of lapse in the case, though the drugs department of J&K did not want to “own the responsibility” for it.
