Drug epidemic driving youth to crime, ‘reducing them to zombies’: HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has come down heavily on the state government over its failure to curb the growing drug menace, holding that young individuals are being forced into theft and other criminal activities to sustain their drug addiction. The court observed that the rampant drug abuse was “severely undermining the future of the country” and “gradually eroding the youth population, much like a termite.”

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“The young individuals are resorting to theft and other criminal activities to satisfy their drug cravings. This highlights the state government's failure to address the growing drug problem, which is particularly alarming in Punjab,” Justice Sandeep Moudgil asserted.

Calling for decisive action against offenders, the court added it was duty-bound to intervene as the drug epidemic was endangering the very fabric of the nation. “The court, as the guardian of its citizens, deems it essential to take decisive action against such offenders, especially when the lives and futures of the nation’s youth are at stake. The drug epidemic must be tackled with the utmost seriousness. The illegal activities carried out by the individuals involved must be met with resolute measures,” Justice Moudgil added.

The judgment came in a case involving the recovery of 290 grams of heroin. The matter was placed before Justice Moudgil’s Bench after accused Jaspal Singh sought the grant of regular bail in a case registered in March 2023 under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and IPC at a police station in Barnala district. Referring to the devastating impact of narcotics, Justice Moudgil asserted that drug abuse was a “social malady” that ate into society’s core. “Drug addiction eats into the vitals of society, whereas drug trafficking not only eats into the vitals of the economy of a country but illicit money generated by drug trafficking is often used for illicit activities including encouragement of terrorism,” the court observed.

Pointing at transformation of individuals following narcotic consumption, Justice Moudgil asserted: “The devastating effects of narcotic drugs on any person who comes to its touch are too well known. Normally, such a person ceases to be a normal human being and is more or less reduced to zombie living animal existences and rushing fast to meet the maker. Divine qualities of an individual who consumes narcotic drugs disappear, and they are the first sacrifices one normally makes while falling prey to use of drugs.”

Dealing with the facts of the case in hand, Justice Moudgil asserted the recovered quantity fells under the commercial category. As such, the “rigors” of Section 37 of the NDPS Act would apply. “It would not be just for the Court to let the petitioner out…,” the court ruled.