M/S. Hindustan Antibiotic Ltd. v. M/S. Parenteral Drugs (India) P. Ltd. (SC) BS188601
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Before:- U.C. Banerjee and K.G. Balakrishnan, JJ.

Civil Appeal No. 3925 of 1990. Civil Appeal No. 3926 of 1990. D/d. 22.11.2000.

M/S. Hindustan Antibiotic Ltd. - Appellant

Versus

M/S. Parenteral Drugs (India) P. Ltd. & Ors. - Respondent

Constitution of India, 1950, Articles 226 and 299 - Writ - Judicial review - Scope of judicial dynamism - Purchase of drugs, medicines and other items like intravenous fluids for consumption in various hospitals - Government policy to grant 10% price preference to small scale industries in the matter of purchase - Award of contract challenged - High Court on perusal of files discovered that appellant supplied I.V. fluids containing fungus - Prosecution directed against appellant - Order challenged - Held, order not justified - However, considering the fact that Courts are having a social duty directions for inquiry issued.

[Para 7]

ORDER

The appellant - M/s. Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd., a Government of India undertaking, is in appeal against the impugned judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and the principal grievance being a direction to the State Government to launch prosecution against the officers of the appellant-company for supplying sub-standard I.V. Fluids. There exists no manner of doubt that I.V. Fluids being life saving drug need to contain the specification and any foreign element found therein ought to be taken note of rather seriously and as such at the first blush this Court was of the view that no interference ought to be had, though Mr. Ganguli contended that the High Court has, in fact, transgressed its limits in the matter of exercise of jurisdiction and it is on this score further that the Court was invited to go into the matter in some greater detail.

2. Mr. Ganguli contended that as a matter of fact and admittedly the core question that fell for consideration before the High Court was whether Government, possesses absolute discretion to confer any benefit on anyone or should that be regulated by some 'norms'. Mr. Ganguli contended that question of sub-standard goods did not fall for consideration before the High Court neither the High Court was otherwise within its jurisdiction to express any opinion in regard thereto. The opinion so expressed cannot, thus, Mr. Ganguli contended, but be termed to be obiter. Mr. Ganguli further contended that in any event the direction as contained in the judgment under appeal, cannot be termed to be otherwise in accordance with the norms and principles of law and there is existing a definite violation of the principles of natural justice since no notice was issued neither any explanation was asked for and without any even submission being made in regard thereto, an order has been passed by the High Court condemning the supplies of the Government undertaking.

3. From a perusal of the judgment we find some credence to Mr. Ganguli's submission since the judgment itself records the admitted set of facts to the effect that M/s. Parenteral Drugs (India) P. Ltd. being the writ petitioner is regular manufacturer of drugs and the respondent nos. 1 to 3 purchased drugs, medicines and other items alike materials including intravenous fluids for consumption in various hospitals in the State. The State Government, however, in order to afford protection to small scale industries in the State issued a Circular dated 9.11. 1976 granting 10% price preference to small scale industries in the State. The policy of the Government as depicted therein in the matter of purchase of drugs has been that the same ought to be purchased from the Government undertakings and that being the issue and core question before the Court, it was in this sphere the arbitrariness had been recorded. After the hearing was concluded the Bench however, thought it fit to require the production of the files as regards the award of contract to Hindustan Antibiotics and it was on the perusal of the files that two letters were discovered in the files wherefrom it appeared that there was a supply of I.V Fluids by Hindustan Antibiotics appellant herein containing fungus and it was on the basis thereof the High Court felt that the officials of the Government undertaking ought to be punished and prosecution ought to be launched. Severe criticism has been leveled against the Government officials for swearing affidavits which are not true to its contents and prosecutions have been directed on that score as well.

4. Mr. Ganguli in support of the appeal on the basis of the facts above contended that law would not countenance such a state of judicial approval in the country and question of any prosecution without even a show cause notice or even without affording an opportunity to file an affidavit in the matter, would not arise. Mr. Ganguli further contended that the matter in dispute is not in issue and the issue before the Court was rather specific as regards the arbitrary action in the matter of award of contract which would otherwise not entail the consequences of initiation of a prosecution.

5. Incidentally, be it noted that the policy in the matter of award of contracts in favour of the Government undertakings now stand changed and in fact the policy has been to recognise the small scale units and on the wake of the aforesaid question of there being any further arbitrary action would not arise. As such neither the State Government nor the appellant is inclined to proceed with the appeal excepting however for the directions as contained in paragraphs 41,42 and 43 of the judgment. Paragraphs 41,42 and 43 so far as relevant for our purposes are set out herein :

6. Admittedly neither of the parties came to court with a case of the nature as has been depicted above. While it is true that the observations of the court as the one noticed above, are not as strictly warranted in the facts but one need not fail to appreciate that the law courts exists for the society and in the event of there being any social problem, it would be well within the domain of the law court to take such step or steps as they may deem fit and appropriate and this is so in spite of the fact that the lis between the parties does not warrant such a conclusion. But in the matter in issue by reason of the long lapse of time the whole exercise has become totally infructuous. Eleven years have passed and the State however, has not taken any steps in terms thereof prior to the obtaining of the order of stay from this Court.

7. On the wake of the facts as above and by reason of the expiry of such a long lapse of time this appeal has become infructuous. We do however deem it expedient to record that while it is true that the directions as above, are totally unwarranted and judicial dynamism has also its limits to warrant exercise of jurisdiction to the extent as above, but since the law courts are having a social duty, issuance of appropriate directions for an enquiry would not be wholly unwarranted. The appeal is disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs.

8. Civil Appeal No. 3926/1990. This appeal is disposed of in terms of the order passed in Civil Appeal No. 3925/1990. No order as to costs.

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