ORISSA HC DISMISSED A PETITION CLAIMING RED ANTS MIXED WITH GREEN CHILLY COULD PREVENT THE COVID-19 VIRUS

11th April 2021

The Orissa HC dismissed a petition by an assistant engineer belonging to Bathudi Tribe Adivasi Community. He contended that 'Kaai Kukuti Chutney' prepared from using red ants and mixed with green chilly can boost the immunity system and prevent the Covid 19 virus.

The Court noted that the Petitioner represented Kaai Chutney to the CSIR and the ICMR, which were not considered. The Petitioner filed W.P, which was disposed of by this Court by order dated 24th December 2020 with a direction to the ICMR and CSIR to decide on his representation. Thereafter the Petitioner’s representations were considered both by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and the CSIR. It was again rejected jointly. 

The Court highlighted the observations made by CSIR, "It has noted that it could not find any reference from the classical books of Ayurveda mentioned in the First Schedule of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 on the internal use of red ant chutney as claimed by the Petitioner. Therefore, the use of red ant chutney or soup for beneficial use by the COVID-19 patient is stated to be “out of the purview of Ayurveda drugs as per regulatory provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945."

The Court held that the use of red ant chutney by the tribal communities for medicinal purposes is based on their traditional knowledge systems, which the Court is hardly equipped to comment upon. The petition is accordingly dismissed. 

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: Orkin