New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a uniform national framework to tackle the manufacture and sale of fake and adulterated medicines, alleging that gaps in the existing system allow such rackets to operate with limited accountability.

The PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay sought directions to the Centre and States to complete investigations into fake drug cases within three months and trials within one year.

It also sought time-bound forensic examination of seized medicines, mandatory videography of search and seizure proceedings, and a standard operating procedure for investigation and prosecution.

The petition also sought assessment and confiscation of the properties of fake drug manufacture...