Madhya Pradesh government has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on the 12 government doctors who had been found to have conducted drug trials on children and mentally challenged persons in Indore.

The action followed a report by the state medical authorities.

The drug trials are regulated by Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. But the fine has been imposed on the 12 doctors for not maintaining records of tests and failing to provide details to the chief medical and health officer under the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishments (Registration and Licence) Act.

As per the law, identity of the patients who underwent clinical/drug trials can not be disclosed. The government statement said that doctors were citing this legal provision and therefore the state government could not approach the patients for probe.

Leader of opposition in the Madhya Pradesh assembly, Ajay Singh, criticised the mild action. In a statement, he said it was "ridiculous" to impose a fine of just Rs 5,000.

The doctors who conducted drug trials on mentally challenged persons after receiving huge payments from multi-national drug companies could not be allowed to go scot-free, he said.

Ajay added that a CBI inquiry was necessary as drug trials were not restricted only to Indore but were taking place in other parts of the state too.