VIVANTA PHARMACEUTICALS vs THE ASSISTANT DRUGS CONTROLLER-1 AND LICENSING AUTHORITY,
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58639
WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
TH
DATED THIS THE 15 DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 31190 OF 2026 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
1. VIVANTA PHARMACEUTICALS
REGISTERED UNDER THE DRUGS AND
COSMETICS ACT, 1940 AND THE
RULES MADE THEREUNDER REG.
OFFICE AT NO.77/1553,
SRI TAYI ARCADE,
3RD FLOOR, PORTION A,
EAST END MAIN ROAD,
9TH BLOCK, JAYANAGAR,
BENGALURU-560069,
REPRESENTED BY ITS PROPRIETOR
SRI. MULLANGI ARAVIND KUMAR,
AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS
S/O. SRI.M VENKATESH.
…PETITIONER
(BY MS. S.M. ASHA, ADVOCATE FOR
SRI. PRASANNA KUMAR B T.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE ASSISTANT DRUGS CONTROLLER-1 AND
LICENSING AUTHORITY,
BENGALURU CIRCLE-3,
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT
DRUGS CONTROLLER,
AYUSH DRUG TESTING LABORATORY,
NEAR ASHOKA PILLAR,
1ST STAGE, JAYANAGAR,
BENGALURU - 560011.
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58639
WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
2. THE COMMISSIONER,
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY AND
DRUGS ADMINISTRATION,
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,
BENGALURU 560001.
3. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT,
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,
VIKASA SOUDHA,
BENGALURU 560001.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. RAHUL CARIAPPA K S, AGA)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE SUSPENSION
ORDER DATED 18.09.2026, BEARING REF. NO, ISSUED BY
RESPONDENT NO.1, WHEREBY THE PETITIONER'S DRUG LICENCES
BEARING NOS. KA/B3/20-274317,KA/B31/21-274319,KA/B31/20B-
274318 AND KA/B31/20-274320 INSOFAR AS THE SAME SUSPENDS
THE PETITIONER'S DRUG LICENCES PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-C.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER
WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
ORAL ORDER
1. The present petition is filed seeking for the following
reliefs:
" a) Issue a writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate
writ, order or direction, quashing the Suspension Order
dated 18.09.2026, bearing Ref. No.
D¸ÀÄOD/¸ÀO¤PÀ/¨ÉA.ªÀÈ-
, issued by Respondent No.1, whereby the
3/305/26-27
Petitioner's Drug Licences bearing Nos. ΚΑ/Β31/20-
274317, ΚΑ/Β31/21-274319, ΚΑ/Β31/20B-274318 and
KA/B31/20-274320, insofar as the same suspends the
Petitioner's Drug Licences; produced as ANNEXURE-C.
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
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WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
b) Declare that the Show Cause Notice dated
17.09.2026, bearing Ref. No.
D¸ÀÄOD/¸ÀO¤-1/¨ÉA.ªÀÈ-
issued by the Respondent No.1,
3/PÁ.PÉÃ.£ÉÆÃ/26-27/298
produced at ANNEXURE-B, insofar as it grants only 24
hours for submission of an effective explanation in the
facts and circumstances of the present case, does not
afford the Petitioner a reasonable and meaningful
opportunity of hearing;
c) Declare that the action of Respondent No.1 in
proceeding to suspend the Petitioner's Drug Licences on
18.09.2026, immediately after issuance of the Show
Cause Notice dated 17.09.2026, without affording a
reasonable opportunity to the Petitioner, is violative of
the principles of natural justice and Article 14 of the
Constitution of India;
d) Direct the Respondents to restore/activate the
Petitioner's Drug Licences and permit the Petitioner to
carry on its lawful pharmaceutical distribution business
in accordance with law;
e) Pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court
may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the case,
in the interest of justice and equity."
2. The petitioner is an authorized distributor of
pharmaceutical products and has been issued with the
impugned show cause notice dated 17.09.2026 (Annexure - B
to the writ petition), consequent to which the impugned order
dated 18.09.2026 (Annexure - C to the writ petition) has been
passed whereunder the license of the petitioner has been
suspended. The notice dated 17.09.2026 has been issued
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58639
WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
1
under Rule 66(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 . The
allegation against the petitioner is that it has dealt with
'Zavicefta injection' which is alleged to be spurious.
3. In this context, it is relevant to note Rule 66 of the Rules,
1945, which reads as under:
66. Cancellation and suspension of
licences. - (1) The Licensing Authority may, after
giving the licensee an opportunity to show cause
why such an order should not be passed by an
order in writing stating the reasons therefor, cancel
a licence issued under this Part or suspend it for
such period as he thinks fit, either wholly or in
respect of some of the substances to which it
relates, if in his opinion, the licensee has failed to
comply with any of the conditions of the licence or
with any provisions of the Act or Rules thereunder:
Provided that, where such failure or
contravention is the consequence of an act or
omission on the part of an agent or employee, the
licence shall not be cancelled or suspended if the
licensee proves to the satisfaction of the licensing
authority−
(a) that the act or omission was not
instigated or connived at by him or, if the
licensee is a firm or company, by a partner of
the firm or a director of the company, or
(b) that he or his agent or employee had not
been guilty of any similar act or omission
within twelve months before the date on
which the act or omission in question took
place, or where his agent or employee had
1
Hereinafter referred to as 'Rules',
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
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been guilty of any such act or omission the
licensee had not or could not reasonably
have had, knowledge of that previous act or
omission, or
(c) if the act or omission was a continuing act
or omission, he had not or could not
reasonably have had knowledge of that
previous act or omission, or
(d) that he had used due diligence to ensure
that the conditions of the licence or the
provisions of the Act or the Rules thereunder
were observed.
(2) A licensee whose licence has been suspended or
cancelled may, within three months of the date of
order under sub-rule (1), prefer an appeal against
that order to the State Government, which shall
decide the same."
4. A plain reading of sub-rule (1) of Rule 66 of the Rules,
clearly indicates that the petitioner is entitled to be given a
show cause notice before an order of either suspension or
cancellation is passed.
5. It is the contended by the petitioner that although seven
days time was granted under notice dated 17.09.2026 for the
petitioner to respond to the same within two days i.e., on
18.09.2026, the license of the petitioner has been suspended.
The action of the respondent for suspending the license of the
petitioner ex-facie unsustainable in law.
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58639
WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
6. It is further relevant to note that by virtue of sub-rule (1)
of Rule 66 of the Rules, the license of the petitioner could be
suspended or cancelled either in whole or part. The said aspect
of the matter is also required to be taken into account by the
concerned authorities.
7. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 18.09.2026
issued by respondent No.1/ Assistant Drugs Controller - 1 and
licensing authority is hereby quashed.
8. The petitioner shall be permitted to file reply to the show
cause notice dated 17.09.2026 (Annexure - B to the writ
petition) on or before 29.10.2026. Consequent to the reply of
the petitioner, the concerned authority shall afford an
opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and take further steps
in accordance with law.
9. Until consideration of the matter by respondent No.1, the
petitioner shall be permitted to carry of its business in terms of
the license except dealing with 'Zavicefta injection'.
10. All contentions of the parties in the merits of the matter
are kept open.
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:58639
WP No. 31190 of 2026
CNR: KAHC010684682026
11. Writ petition is partly allowed in the aforesaid terms.
Digitally Signed by CHEPPUDIRA
MONNAPPA POONACHA
(C.M. POONACHA)
JUDGE
BS
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