No Leniency for Chemists Selling Banned Drugs: Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao

Chandigarh, November 4: Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao has issued a stern warning against the illegal sale of banned and narcotic drugs, stating that no chemist or medical store owner involved in such activities will be spared. She directed officials to conduct thorough inspections and take strict action against offenders.

Acting on her directions under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Drug-Free India Campaign), the Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration Haryana, Manoj Kumar, initiated a large-scale crackdown in Sirsa district. The operation was conducted by 35 Senior Drugs Control Officers (SDCOs) and several Drugs Control Officers (DCOs) from different zones and districts.

To ensure effective implementation, eight special inspection teams were formed to carry out surprise checks at chemist shops suspected of selling psychotropic or dual-use drugs. The raids were personally supervised by State Drugs Controller Lalit Kumar Goyal, with Assistant State Drugs Controllers Parvinder Singh, Karan Singh Godara, and Rakesh Dahiya present from the headquarters.

The simultaneous raid covered multiple areas of Sirsa district, including Kalanwali, Badagudha, Dabwali, Rania, Ellenabad, and Sirsa city. The inspections began at 11:30 a.m. and continued until 6:00 p.m.

During the drive, 67 medical shops were inspected. Sixteen of these were sealed for not maintaining proper records and for other regulatory violations. Fifteen drug samples were collected for testing, and all violators will receive show-cause notices. Further action will be taken under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.

Minister Rao reiterated the government’s firm commitment to making Haryana a drug-free state. She asserted that such operations will continue and that the illegal trade of narcotic drugs will not be tolerated under any circumstances.