The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ludhiana, has directed two pharmaceutical companies to jointly pay ₹1 lakh in compensation to a 74-year-old city resident after a stapler pin was discovered inside a pain-relief tablet he had consumed. The order was recently passed by Commission President Sanjeev Batra and Member Monika Bhagat.
The commission instructed the pharmaceutical firms to pay the compensation within 30 days, failing which the amount will attract 8 per cent annual interest from the date of the order.
Shocking Incident Triggers Medical Emergency
The complainant, a retired district attorney suffering from multiple age-related ailments, had purchased ORO Plus tablets from a local chemist in September 2022. One night, shortly after swallowing a tablet, he experienced a sharp object lodged in his throat, leading to choking, breathlessness, and a sudden spike in blood pressure.
Acting swiftly, his family performed repeated abdominal thrusts, after which the tablet was expelled. To their shock, they found a stapler pin embedded inside the tablet.
Commission Notes Physical and Mental Trauma
As reported by Hindustan Times, the commission recorded that the incident caused physical injury, panic, and severe mental agony to the complainant. It observed that the medicine posed a serious threat to his life and safety, and that timely intervention by his family helped avert a potential tragedy.
Manufacturer and Marketer Held Liable
The tablet was manufactured by Kaalinga Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Primula Pharmaceuticals. While the local chemist was initially impleaded as a party, the commission noted that the chemist had sold the medicine in sealed packaging and found no evidence of tampering or negligence at the retail level.
In contrast, the two pharmaceutical firms failed to explain how such a dangerous defect occurred. Notably, one of the firms chose not to contest the proceedings at all.
Product Declared Hazardous Under Consumer Law
During the hearing, the commission examined the recovered tablet and categorically described it as “hazardous to the life and safety of the complainant.” Holding the manufacturer and marketer liable under the product liability provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the commission ruled that the complainant had clearly suffered harm due to a manufacturing defect.
Moreover, the commission criticised the firms for failing to conduct an independent inquiry or recall the affected batch to protect other consumers.
Compensation Ordered With Strict Compliance Timeline
The commission fixed the liability of the pharmaceutical firms as joint and several, directing them to pay ₹1 lakh within 30 days. If they fail to comply, the compensation will accrue interest at 8 per cent per annum until payment.
Emphasis on Consumer Safety
In its concluding observations, the commission stressed the importance of safeguarding consumers from hazardous and defective products. It reiterated that pharmaceutical companies bear a heightened responsibility to ensure product safety, especially when lapses can endanger human life.