Supreme Court restrains businessman from peddling AIDS cure

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SC restrains businessman from peddling AIDS cure

Dhananjay Mahapatra

[4 Jan, 2007]

NEW DELHI: Repeating what health minister Anbumani Ramadoss said to

yoga guru Ramdev, the Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained a Kerala-

based businessman from manufacturing, marketing, selling or

advertising 'ImmunoQR', a drug he claimed could cure AIDS.

While restraining T A Majeed from going ahead with production of the

drug, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K

Thakker also took exception to the Kerala government's stand before

the high court which allowed him to continue selling the ayurvedic

medicine.

The SC found that Majeed got a licence to manufacture the medicine in

1993 but it was cancelled in 1997. When the matter came before the

apex court, it had maintained the state drug controller's decision to

cancel the licence for production of ImmunoQR but had asked the

Kerala High Court to adjudicate the matter.

Surprisingly, the state government counsel conceded before the HC

that Majeed could keep manufacturing the drug if he did not advertise

it as a cure for AIDS. A similar plea was advanced by Majeed's

counsel.

He argued that the ayurvedic medicine was a cure for night sweating,

cough, high-blood pressure and high fever and hence, its manufacture

be allowed to continue.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/SC_restrains_businessman

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