Centre Empowers LGs of Five UTs to Enforce Drugs and Magic Remedies Act
New Delhi, Jan 19: Lieutenant Governors and administrators of five Union territories will now have the authority to direct officers to search premises or seize records related to misleading advertisements claiming magical remedies for serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
In an order recently notified in the gazette by the Home Ministry, the government delegated these powers to the LGs or administrators of Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Puducherry.
The order states:
“The President hereby directs that the administrator (whether known as LG or administrator) of the Union territories of Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir shall, subject to the control of the President and until further orders, exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the state government under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 within their respective Union territories.”
The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, along with its Rules, prohibits misleading or exaggerated claims about drugs and medicinal substances, including Ayush medicines, in print and electronic media.
Under the Act, gazetted officers authorized by the state governments can enter and search premises, examine or seize records, and take action against violations. For the five UTs, the LGs or administrators now hold the power to authorize such officers.
The law specifically bans advertisements for drugs claiming to treat 54 diseases and disorders, including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. It prohibits promoting or marketing any drug as a cure for these conditions and bars anyone from publishing ads that suggest or lead to the use of such drugs for diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of these diseases. (Agencies)
