SC dismisses plea for banning I-pill

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit seeking ban on over-the-counter sale of birth control drug I-pill without prescription of a doctor.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit seeking ban on over-the-counter sale of birth control drug I-pill without prescription of a doctor.

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A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice Deepak Verma dismissed the lawsuit disagreeing with petitioner Krupa Prolifers' contention that I-pill leads to abortion in violation of the relevant laws on pregnancy.

The petitioner approached the apex court challenging a recent verdict of the Kerala High Court, which turned down the petitioner's similar plea for the ban on over-the-counter sale of I-Pill.

The petitioner contended that a child is conceived in the womb soon after sexual intercourse and I-pill leads to destruction of the foetus within the first 72 hours after fertlisation.

The petitioner also contended that the medicine has various side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, breast tenderness etc., and its regular intake reduces the chances of pregnancy again.

But the bench did not appear convinced of these arguments and dismissed the lawsuit.