The Supreme Court on Friday closed the case seeking action against US-based pharma major Johnson and Johnson for allegedly fitting faulty hip implants, and said that steps have been taken by the Centre to provide compensation of up to Rs 1.22 crore to patients who have been impacted.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul took note of the steps taken by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on award of compensation to the aggrieved persons and said that there was “no justification” to keep the petition pending.
The apex court was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, that certain modifications were suggested by two panels, headed by doctors Arun Kumar Aggarwal and RK Arya respectively, on determination of quantum of compensation payable to the victims of faulty hip implants and the Government has accepted them.
The committee “recommended that compensation up to the extent of Rs 1.22 crore approximately can be granted and also the principles/formula for grant of compensation have/has been recommended, which recommendations have been accepted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,” the bench noted in the order.
The apex court was hearing the PIL of Arun Kumar Goenka alleging that “faulty” and “deadly” hip implants have been fitted into the bodies of 4,525 Indian patients who had undergone the replacement surgeries since 2005.