The Supreme Court voiced serious concern over the escalating menace of drug abuse and trafficking across the country as it sought responses from the Centre and several State governments on a petition seeking systemic reforms in the enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana observed that the situation was grave and required effective action by the law-and-order machinery. Justice Bagchi also highlighted the challenge posed by cross-border drug trafficking, particularly from the Golden Crescent region and through India’s international borders.
The Court was hearing a petition filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who has sought several measures to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of offences under the NDPS Act.
Upadhyay submitted that drug and substance abuse has serious implications for public health, particularly among young people, and poses a threat to national security because of the links between drug trafficking and terror financing.
Among other measures, the plea seeks mandatory timelines for submission of forensic science laboratory (FSL) reports in NDPS cases and a standard operating procedure (SOP) governing search, seizure and sampling in cases involving small and intermediate quantities of narcotic substances.
The petitioner has also sought the constitution of an expert committee to identify and ensure the timely scheduling of newly emerging psychotropic substances.
Further, the plea seeks SOPs for time-bound investigation and speedy trials in drug-related cases, as well as directions for the timely confiscation of properties belonging to drug traffickers, financiers and their family members.
The Bench issued notice to the Centre and the concerned State governments on the petition.
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