Sudhir Deshpande: ‘Legal Guru’ for Food and Drugs Administration

By Rajendra Diwe :

SUDHIR W Deshpande from Vidarbha, born and brought up in a small tehsil like Jalgaon Jamod, has achieved a unique feat of publishing all the 10 editions of commentary on Drug Laws. Deshpande is hailed as a ‘Legal Guru’ by officials in Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Maharashtra as well as Central Drugs Control Organisation. He served FDA Maharashtra for 33 years before retiring as Joint Commissioner, FDA Mumbai Headquarters. ‘The Hitavada’ caught up with the ‘Legal Guru’ to know what inspired him to publish commentaries on Drugs and Cosmetic Act for years.

“When I joined Drugs Inspector (DI) in 1973 after passing B Pharm from Nagpur University’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UDPS), I had very little knowledge about drug laws. While working as a DI (Intelligence Branch), I realised that DI should possess multifarious skills. Apart from knowledge of pharmacy, DI is required to have in-depth knowledge of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 and other allied drug laws and also knowledge of Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act etc. With a view to ensure success in Court cases, DI should have enough competency to properly brief the prosecutors,” Deshpande explained. “During my training, I was influenced by in-depth knowledge of Late V D Deshmukh, the then Joint Commissioner who used to quote from the Supreme Court and High Court judgements. Therefore, I developed interest in law and this prompted me to join Law College. During my tenure at Yavatmal, I started compiling the Supreme Court and High Court judgements from 1940. During nineties, the only book available on Drugs Act was authored by Malik but the commentary was not exhaustive.

I thought that there is a need for exhaustive commentary in which every Section is explained on the basis of legislative background and judgements of High Court and Supreme Court especially for Drugs Control Officers. With this idea, I compiled all judgements reported during 1940 to 1990 and started writing commentary,” he added. Deshpande said, he was also helped by Nilesh Gandhi who was working as Drugs Inspector with him. “All these efforts culminated in publication of first edition of Commentary on Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 and other allied Acts in 1999.” Deshpande has authored three books on drug legislation namely, Case Law on drugs and Cosmetic Act 1940; A commentary on Drugs and Magic Remedies Act 1954 and an exhaustive commentary on Drugs and Cosmetic Act 1940 of which the 10th edition is published recently. Deshpande is a recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award by All India Drugs Control Officers Confederation (AIDCOC). He was the president of 61st Indian Pharmaceutical Congress held in Ahmedabad. He is founder president of DIWA (Drugs Inspectors Welfare Association).

He has also set up ‘Pharmalex’ which is offering legal consultation on drug legislation and is legal advisor to the Indian Drugs Manufacturers’ Association, Ayurvedic Drugs Manufacturers’ Association and many leading Indian and multinational Pharmaceutical Companies. The exhaustive Commentary on Drugs Law is considered as the ultimate source to refer for the Food and Drugs Administration officials. Deshpande feels happy that his work is helping the fraternity and continues to carry on with the good work in the future too, unmindful of his advancing age.