Supreme Court dismisses Liver Doctor's plea against Arsenicum Album 30 as withdrawn

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed as withdrawn a writ petition filed by Kerala-based physician-scientist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as the 'Liver Doctor', challenging the use of the homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum Album 30 as a preventive measure against COVID-19 and as an immunity booster.

The plea was filed by Dr Cyriac Abby Philips and others in 2021, challenging the advisories and guidelines issued by the Ministry of AYUSH that allowed State Governments to prescribe Arsenicum Album 30 as a homoeopathic immunity booster.  

Back then, the petitioners sought directions restraining governments from administering Arsenicum Album 30 or any other homoeopathic medicine on a mass scale to any section of the population, particularly children and elderly persons aged above 65 years.

Medical Dialogues reported in July, 2023 that the Apex Court in this case sought to know the stand of the Central Government and other concerned authorities and therefore issued them notices.

However, the petitioners have now sought to withdraw the plea. In a letter dated August 2, 2026, counsel for the petitioners informed the Court about the request to withdraw the case.

Also read- SC seeks Response from Centre on Plea seeking bar on administration of Arsenic album 30 as Covid-19 preventive, immunity booster

When the matter came up for hearing, a division bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, taking note of the letter, accordingly dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Meanwhile, Advocate Mukund P Unny, appearing for the Indian Homoeopathic Medical Association, opposed the manner in which the petition was being withdrawn. He told the Court that the petitioner had made statements against the Court and the judiciary and described his conduct as “very serious” and “very contemptuous”.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi, however, told the counsel, as quoted by Live Law, "Nothing bothers us. You don't bother yourself. Assist us to administer justice. That is the only focus."

The Court thereafter dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

Case Background

Before moving the Supreme Court, Dr Philips had challenged the proposed distribution of Arsenicum Album 30CH to school students before the Kerala High Court.

As per the advisory issued by the Centre, one dose of Arsenicum album 30 was prescribed daily on an empty stomach for three days as prevention against COVID-19. Further, the guidelines mention that the dose should be repeated after one month if COVID infections are present in the community.

The petitioner had challenged the distribution of Arsenicum Album 30CH, raising the contention that administering even one dose of this can have serious, irreversible, irreparable harm to children as detailed therein. 

The Kerala High Court, by its Order dated 22.10.2021, disposed of the writ petition by giving liberty to the Petitioner to submit a representation to the Government. Accordingly, the Petitioner submitted the representation.

Later, approaching the top court bench, the petitioners sought to declare the Guidelines, Advisories and Fact Sheets issued by the Respondents, to permit the administration of homeopathic medicine Arsenic Album 30 as a COVID 19 prophylactic, to be in violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Also read- How is Arsenic Album 30 an Immunity Booster, SC asks Govt for response