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Kerala-based physician-scientist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips (popularly known as 'The Liver Doctor') today withdrew his writ petition, filed in 2022, before the Supreme Court against the administration of homoeopathic medicine 'Arsenicum Album 30' to children and elderly persons as a preventive measure against Covid-19 or for boosting immunity.

A bench of 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V Mohana took note of a letter dated August 2, 2026 sent by the petitioner's counsel and dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

When the matter was called out, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that there was a letter seeking withdrawal of the petition.

Advocate Mukund P Unny, the counsel for the Indian Homoeopathic Medical Association, criticised the conduct of the PIL petitioner, stating that he had made statements against the Court and the judiciary. He described the petitioner's conduct as “very serious” and “very contemptuous”.

Justice Bagchi, however, told the counsel, “Nothing bothers us. You don't bother yourself. Assist us to administer justice. That is the only focus.”

The Court then dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

In 2022, the Supreme Court had issued notice on his plea challenging the Ministry of Ayush's Guidelines, Advisories and Fact Sheets permitting the administration of homoeopathic medicine, including Arsenicum Album 30, as a preventive measure against Covid-19 or for boosting immunity.

The plea had sought to restrain the administration of Arsenicum Album 30 to children and persons above 65 years of age.

The petitioner had argued that the advisories and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Ayush had become the basis for different State Governments to prescribe irrational medicines in the name of boosting immunity during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The plea referred to the Kerala Government's mass distribution of Arsenicum Album 30CH among school children. It stated that the medicine contained arsenic and claimed that the Kerala Government had distributed it to between 38 lakh and 50 lakh school students.

The petitioner had also sought a direction to refer the question of the safety and efficacy of Arsenicum Album 30 as an “immune booster” for Covid-19 to the Covid Task Force constituted by the Supreme Court on May 6, 2021 for oxygen allocation to States.

Before approaching the Supreme Court, the petitioner had challenged the proposed administration of Arsenicum Album 30CH to school students before the Kerala High Court. The High Court had granted him liberty to make a representation before the State Government.

The petitioner subsequently approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's order, but the Supreme Court dismissed that challenge on December 17, 2021.

The Supreme Court thereafter issued notice in the writ petition in 2022. It has now been dismissed as withdrawn.

Case no. – W.P.(C) No. 1352/2021 Diary No. 28503/2021

Case Title – Cyriac Abby Philips v. Union of India

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