What steps have been taken on drug menace, asks Supreme Court

New Delhi, January 23

The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre and states on a PIL seeking direction to check drug menace in schools and colleges.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar asked the respondents to file their response in three weeks.

The court had in August asked the Centre to file a status report on the implementation of the court’s guidelines for fool-proof storage and disposal of seized drugs to prevent theft and illegal sale that had resulted in “rampant drug abuse,” particularly among the youth in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, HP and other states.

It had told the Centre’s counsel to find out from the states the steps taken to enforce its directives and file a report, particularly on the de-addiction and rehabilitation centres and destruction of the seized drugs. The Bench passed the order on a fresh PIL pleading for fresh laws to effectively deal with the growing menace. — TNS

Verify SIMs: Apex court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to put in place a proper verification process for issuance of SIM cards for cell phones . A Bench headed by CJI JS Khehar asked the Centre to inform it about the verification process in two weeks. It was needed to check misuse of unverified cell phones for criminal purposes, the Bench said. TNS