File bimonthly reports on cannabis control steps: HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed States of Punjab and Haryana to submit bimonthly compliance reports on efforts to curb the wild growth of cannabis plants. The order by the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel came during the hearing of a suo motu or “Court on its own motion” case on stricter action against the unchecked spread of cannabis.

As the matter came up for resumed hearing, the Bench referred to the status reports and affidavits filed by the respondents, including Punjab Agricultural University at Ludhiana and Haryana Agricultural University at Hisar. Both stated “in one voice” that physical or mechanical removal paired with regular monitoring was the sole effective method to control cannabis proliferation.

Referring to the status reports and affidavits, the Bench observed that authorities had taken “enough” steps to “ensure prevention and monitoring of wild growth of cannabis plants”. “With the hope and expectation that the process of prevention and monitoring shall continue in future, this court directs that a compliance/status report with regard to prevention and monitoring of wild growth of cannabis plants be filed in this court once every two month,” the court observed.