JAMMU, Aug 5: In a decisive move to tighten control over pharmaceutical practices, Government has cancelled the drug sale licenses of eight pharmacies and disallowed operations of 75 others during a special enforcement drive launched across the Union Territory.
The drive, led by the Drug & Food Control Organization (DFCO), focused on curbing the unauthorized sale of psychotropic and prescription drugs, with inspections carried out across multiple districts. The eight pharmacies lost their licenses for failing to maintain proper records of habit-forming drugs and not implementing computerized billing systems. These outlets were located in Anantnag, Budgam, Chadoora, Rajouri and Haria Chak.
Further, operations of 75 retail establishments were disallowed on the spot under Section 22(d) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Violations ranged from non-maintenance of records and impersonation to poor storage conditions. Districts affected included Jammu, Rajouri, Anantnag, Kupwara, Budgam, Kulgam, Pulwama and others.
More than 500 drug samples were collected and sent for quality testing, while drugs worth Rs 8.4 lakh violating the law were confiscated. Additionally, stocks of addictive medicines worth Rs 13.5 lakh were seized to prevent diversion into illegal markets. Legal custody for these stocks was secured through court orders.
State Drugs Controller Lotika Khajuria reiterated the administration's zero-tolerance stance on drug abuse and warned that any firm found procuring habit-forming drugs through unauthorized or clandestine means would face strict legal action, including cancellation of licenses.