Supreme Court Withdraws Plea Against Arsenic-Based Homeopathic Medicine for COVID Immunity

Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Against Arsenic-Based Homeopathic Medicine for COVID Immunity

The Supreme Court of India on September 25, 2026, dismissed a writ petition filed by Kerala-based physician-scientist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as 'The Liver Doctor', after the petitioner withdrew the case. The petition, originally filed in 2022, had challenged the administration of the homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30 to children and elderly persons as a preventive measure against COVID-19 or for boosting immunity. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana took note of a letter dated August 2, 2026, sent by the petitioner's counsel and formally dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Legal Challenge to a Public Health Measure

Dr Cyriac Abby Philips had initiated legal proceedings in 2022 through a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to challenge what he viewed as an inappropriate public health measure. The petition specifically targeted the widespread administration of Arsenicum Album 30, a homoeopathic remedy containing arsenic compounds, to vulnerable populations including children and the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The petitioner's concern centred on the use of arsenic-based formulations as an immunity-boosting agent in the context of a serious infectious disease outbreak.

Such a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India represents a direct appeal to the Supreme Court's extraordinary jurisdiction to question the legality and appropriateness of government action. Citizens file these petitions when they believe fundamental rights have been violated or that public authorities have acted beyond their constitutional powers. Dr Philips sought to challenge what he considered a medically unsound and potentially harmful intervention.

The Bench's Decision

When the matter came before the bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, the court did not engage in a substantive hearing on the merits. Instead, the bench acknowledged the withdrawal letter submitted by the petitioner's legal counsel dated August 2, 2026. Upon noting this withdrawal, the bench proceeded to dismiss the writ petition India without delivering a judgment on the underlying issues of whether Arsenicum Album 30 was an appropriate preventive measure against COVID-19 or whether its administration to children and elderly persons was justified.

The dismissal as withdrawn means that the court accepted the petitioner's decision to abandon the legal challenge. This procedural outcome differs from a substantive judgment, as it does not establish any legal precedent regarding homoeopathic treatments in public health emergencies or the regulation of arsenic-based medicines for COVID-19 immunity purposes.

COVID-19 and Alternative Therapies in India

During the COVID-19 pandemic, various countries and health systems explored multiple therapeutic and preventive approaches. In India, homoeopathy, an alternative medicine system, was promoted by some government agencies and practitioners as a complementary measure for COVID-19 immunity. The use of Arsenicum Album, a classical homoeopathic remedy, became part of some public health advisories, particularly in states where homoeopathy has institutional support through dedicated government colleges and research centres.

The controversy surrounding the use of arsenic-based homoeopathic medicines during the pandemic reflected broader debates about the scientific evidence supporting alternative therapies in emergency health situations. Dr Philips, known for his work in hepatology and medical science, had raised concerns about administering such remedies to vulnerable populations without sufficient clinical evidence of efficacy or safety.

Regulatory Framework for Homoeopathic Medicines

In India, homoeopathic medicines are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. The Ministry of Ayush oversees the registration and approval of homoeopathic drugs. While Arsenicum Album is a recognized homoeopathic remedy with a long history in the homoeopathic pharmacopoeia, questions about its use in specific populations and for specific indications remain matters of medical and regulatory judgment.

The regulatory framework requires that medicines be manufactured according to established standards and that their use be based on accepted therapeutic indications. During the pandemic, the promotion of homoeopathic medicines as COVID-19 preventives occurred within this regulatory environment, though the scientific evidence supporting such use remained contested among medical professionals.

The Petitioner's Medical Background

Dr Cyriac Abby Philips has established himself as a physician-scientist with a focus on liver diseases and hepatology. His medical background and public health advocacy have made him a vocal commentator on evidence-based medicine and the promotion of therapies with adequate scientific support. His decision to file a writ petition challenging the administration of Arsenicum Album 30 reflected his commitment to questioning public health measures that he believed lacked sufficient scientific justification.

The withdrawal of the petition, however, suggests that circumstances may have changed or that the petitioner determined that continued litigation was not the most effective means of addressing his concerns. This is common in public interest litigation, where petitioners may reassess the utility of court proceedings as situations evolve.