Drug peddling more heinous than murder: Punjab and Haryana High Court

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, January 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has declared that the pursuit of justice against drug-related crimes is a criminal facet of social justice. Amid claims of robust measures to combat the menace, the Bench has also made it clear that covert smuggling of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances has inflicted addiction on a substantial portion of the public. The court’s assertion was accompanied by a stark analogy, emphasising that those engaged in drug trafficking cause widespread harm to numerous innocent young victims unlike a murder case where harm was limited to one or two individuals.

Inflicting death blow

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It has to be borne in mind that in a murder case, the accused commits murder of one or two persons, while those, who are dealing in narcotic drugs, are instrumental in causing death or inflicting death blow to a number of innocent young victims, who are vulnerable. Justice Sandeep Moudgil

The Bench was hearing a petition seeking the grant of anticipatory bail to a woman-accused in a case involving commercial quantity of contraband registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Taking up the matter, Justice Sandeep Moudgil of the high court asserted the menace in both states was writ large and a large number of youth was falling prey at the hands of drug mafia. Expressing deep concern, the Bench asserted: “It has to be borne in mind that in a murder case, the accused commits murder of one or two persons, while those persons, who are dealing in a narcotic drugs, are instrumental in causing death or inflicting death blow to a number of innocent young victims, who are vulnerable”.

Justice Moudgil added the drug traffickers were a hazard to society, even if they were released temporarily. They would, in all probability, continue with their nefarious activities of trafficking and dealing in intoxicants clandestinely obviously for “large stake and the easy illegal profit making mode”.

Justice Moudgil added drug addiction was causing deleterious effects and a deadly impact on society. In the present prevailing scenario, drug trafficking, trading and its use had acquired the dimensions of an epidemic, which not only affected the state’s economic policies and corrupted the system, but also left the impact of producing a sick society.

“I will not be shy of saying that anti-drug justice is a criminal dimension of social justice as drug addiction forms vitals of the society along with illicit money generation by drug trafficking,” Justice Moudgil added.

Referring to the facts of the case in hand, Justice Moudgil asserted the petitioner’s role was not that of a law-abiding citizen as evident from the record before the high court. There was no material evidence to establish the petitioner’s innocence. As such, the question of admitting the petitioner to bail did not arise.