State Of Kerala vs Orison J Francis & Anr

The Supreme Court addressed the quashing of proceedings under Section 18(c) and Section 27(b)(ii) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, concerning the manufacture and sale of drugs without a license. The Court held that the classification of the seized products as Ayurvedic or Allopathy drugs is a matter for trial, and the High Court's interference was unwarranted given the lack of a valid license by the accused. The Court emphasized that the authority of the Drug Inspector to file the complaint was valid, and the absence of prior sanction under Section 33M was not a ground for quashing the proceedings.