Dope test made mandatory for all NDPS Act accused in Punjab

The Punjab Health Department on Wednesday asked all civil surgeons in the state to include a dope test in their general medical examination of all accused booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

According to the letter sent to all civil surgeons, any person arrested under the NDPS Act will undergo a mandatory dope test to determine whether they were under the influence of drugs at the time of arrest. The proposal highlights that in many cases, the accused are already in an intoxicated state when apprehended, making it crucial to record this evidence through scientific testing.

The letter reads that the dope test results would not only strengthen the police case against the accused in the court but also help in identifying addicts who require rehabilitation.

The department further conveyed that the dope tests be conducted free of cost at government hospitals within 10 hours of arrest, and the results should be included in the general medical examination report of the accused, which is forwarded to the court.

The letter reads that in some cases, the investigating officer (IO) had to bear the cost of the dope test personally, which has now been addressed by waiving any fee for such tests.

The Health Department has also emphasised the need for adequate availability of dope test kits in government hospitals to ensure smooth implementation of this measure.