Faulty hip implants: SC closes case against Johnson and Johnson

New Delhi: 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 S K 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 SC 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 R K 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.

"In view of the developments that have taken place, we do not find any justification in keeping this matter pending any longer.

The same is accordingly closed with the direction that the constitution of the Committee and the principles for award of compensation have to be given wide publicity to enable all the affected persons to approach the Committee, if so advised.

The writ petition is accordingly disposed of," it said. 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.