NHRC directs J&K authorities to probe plight of four children disabled by contaminated cough syrup
NHRC directs J&K authorities to probe plight of four children disabled by contaminated cough syrup
Jammu, Sept. 29
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the concerned authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct an enquiry into a complaint seeking compensation and rehabilitation for four children from Ramnagar tehsil of Udhampur district who allegedly suffered permanent disabilities after consuming contaminated “Cold Best-PC” cough syrup.
The Commission considered a complaint/intimation submitted by senior social and health activist Sukesh C. Khajuria on September 24, 2026. It directed the concerned authority to take appropriate action in accordance with law after conducting an enquiry in association with the complainant/victim and inform him of the action taken. The authority has also been asked to submit an action-taken report to the Commission within four weeks.
The complaint, originally dated November 13, 2025, states that the four children survived the contaminated syrup tragedy of 2019-20 but allegedly suffered permanent disabilities. Khajuria has enclosed disability certificates issued by the Chief Medical Officer, Udhampur, in support of his claim.
The complaint relates to the consumption of “Cold Best-PC” syrup manufactured by Digital Vision, Kala Amb, Himachal Pradesh. According to laboratory findings cited in the complaint, a sample of the syrup was found to contain 34.24 per cent w/v of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial solvent.
The contaminated syrup had earlier been linked to the deaths of infants in the Ramnagar area of Udhampur during December 2019 and January 2020. The NHRC had subsequently directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to provide compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased children. The administration’s challenge to the NHRC’s decision was dismissed by the courts, according to records cited by the Commission.
Khajuria has now urged the authorities to extend similar relief to the four surviving children, contending that they have been left with lifelong physical and medical consequences without adequate compensation or rehabilitation.
He has sought adequate financial compensation for each of the four children, taking into account their lifelong medical and other needs. He has also sought fixation of responsibility on officials allegedly responsible for regulatory lapses and stronger mechanisms for drug-quality control, surveillance and enforcement.
The NHRC’s latest direction, however, is for an enquiry and action by the concerned authority; it does not itself, at this stage, award compensation to the four surviving children or make a fresh finding of liability against individual officials.
The earlier NHRC proceedings had found lapses on the part of the J&K Drugs Department in maintaining vigilance over the quality and contents of medicines sold within its jurisdiction and held the administration vicariously liable for the purpose of monetary relief to the families of the deceased children.
The latest proceedings have thus brought the plight of the surviving victims of the Ramnagar cough-syrup tragedy back before the human rights watchdog, with the J&K authorities now required to submit their action-taken report within four weeks.
