In a blow to the Centre, its decision to ban 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) medicines, including well known brands like Corex cough syrup, Vicks Action 500 extra and several anti-diabetes medication, was set aside by the Delhi High Court on Thursday. The court said the step was taken in a "haphazard manner".

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw allowed 454 petitions moved by various pharma and healthcare majors, like Pfizer, Glenmark, Procter and Gamble and Cipla, challenging the Government's 10 March notification banning the FDCs, saying the decision was taken by the Centre without following procedure prescribed in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The court had from 14 March onwards stayed the operation of the Centre's decision with regard to medicines of several pharma majors.

The court said on Thursday that proceedings till issuance of the notification of 10 March, 2016, "do not suggest there was any grave urgency".

During the hearing in the case, the drug companies had contended that the government has not properly implemented the powers under section 26A, under which the ban was ordered.

They had also argued that the ban order was passed without considering clinical data and termed as "absurd" the Government's claim that it took the decision to ban FDCs on grounds that safer alternatives were available.

As per the 10 March notification, "On the basis of recommendations of an expert committee, the central government is satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in public interest to regulate by way of prohibition of manufacture for sale, sale and distribution for human use of said drugs in the country."

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