New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited and its associated petitioners in their legal dispute with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The court directed that FSSAI’s impugned orders dated October 14 and 15, 2025, concerning the company’s nutraceutical product “Relalanz Vitors,” shall not be enforced until the authority decides on the company’s representation after a due hearing.
The case was heard by Justice Sachin Datta, in connection with writ petition W.P.(C) 16303/2025, filed by Dr. Reddy’s and others against the Union of India and FSSAI.
Background of the Dispute
The matter stems from FSSAI’s orders—F. No. RCD-15001/6/2021-Regulatory-FSSAI [E-1475] and a related clarification issued on October 15, 2025—which restricted the manufacture, marketing, and sale of Dr. Reddy’s product Relalanz Vitors. The orders followed FSSAI’s stance that using the term “ORS” in any food product name, even with prefixes or suffixes, violated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Arguments Presented
Appearing for Dr. Reddy’s, Senior Advocate Neelam Tripathi argued that the orders were passed without adhering to due process or principles of natural justice. She also referred to a previous Delhi High Court ruling on October 17, 2025, in a similar matter, where the court had directed that the same FSSAI orders be kept in abeyance until affected companies were heard.
Representing FSSAI, Counsel Aamir Zafar Khan informed the court that hearings had already been scheduled for October 28, 2025, and the review process would be completed by October 31, 2025. He assured the bench that no coercive or arbitrary actions would be taken while the matter was under consideration.
Court Observations
Justice Datta noted that ensuring procedural fairness and legality in FSSAI’s actions was of utmost urgency. He also observed that it would be prejudicial to allow the product’s continued manufacture during ongoing regulatory proceedings.
Dr. Reddy’s assured the court that it had already stopped manufacturing new stocks of Relalanz Vitors. The company, however, requested permission to dispose of existing stocks, which the court said would be considered at the next hearing.
Interim Relief and Next Hearing
In its interim order, the High Court recorded the company’s assurance and ruled that:
“The FSSAI’s orders dated 14.10.2025 and 15.10.2025 shall not be given effect against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited until the representation is decided after due hearing.”
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 31, 2025, under the “Supplementary Matters” category.
