New Delhi, November 11:  The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration against an order of the National Human Rights Commission to pay compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to kin of 10 children who died in Udhampur district due to consumption of spurious cough syrup.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and M M Sundresh said officers were found to be negligent and it does find any reason to interfere in the matter. Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking To Restrain Justice DY Chandrachud From Taking Oath As Next CJI.

"Your officers are found to be negligent. They ought to have been vigilant. Don't compel us to say things about food and industry department.The health of citizens is in their hands. They don't perform duties at all. They can't play with the lives of citizens. It is their duty to check and verify things," the bench observed.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration challenging the March 3, 2021, order of the high court which had dismissed its plea against the NHRC order. Ten children died in Ramnagar tehsil of Udhampur in December 2019 and January 2020 due to consumption of spurious cough syrup. Babri Mosque Demolition Case: Allahabad High Court Dismisses Plea Against Acquittal of LK Advani and 32 Other Accused.

The NHRC found procedural lapses on the part of the Drugs Department. The Commission held Jammu and Kashmir vicariously liable for the lapses on part of the department and recommended compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)