HC commandments on war on drugs

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 22

In a judgment that will change the way drug peddlers are dealt with, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today took upon itself the task of guiding the Punjab Police by issuing 25 “mandatory” directions for eradicating the drug menace, virtually rapping the state for not doing enough.  

The commandments include directions to the DGP to revamp, restructure and strengthen the special task force (STF) and deployment of cops in mufti from 8 am to 6 pm in the vicinity of educational institutions to nab suppliers. The Bench directed the state, through the DGP, to register cases against kingpins under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. 

Referring to news reports carried in The Tribune, the Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu asserted: “It is intriguing to note that students are getting the prohibited drugs, but the police is not in position to catch hold of kingpins and peddlers”.

Asserting that the menace had attained alarming proportions, the Bench gave the state six months to establish rehab centres in each district, ensuring basic necessities to inmates, including board and lodging and counselling.

The directions came on appeals by Baljinder Singh and Khushi Khan against Patiala Special Court order convicting and sentencing them in September, 2011 to 12 years' imprisonment. Acquitting them, the Bench asserted the court’s prime concern was that charas, heroin and synthetic drugs were not available in the state at all. The entire police force was required to focus on catching the kingpins and bringing them to justice.

The Bench directed the state to appoint a psychiatrist in each rehab centre who would visit schools in his jurisdiction, educating them on the ill-effects of drugs. All educational institutions, including government, aided and private schools and minority institutions, were directed to appoint the seniormost teacher as nodal officer to counsel students every Friday.  

“In case he finds drug abuse symptoms, he shall be at liberty to summon the parents. They would be sensitised against drug abuse at parent-teacher meetings,” Justice Sharma said. All schools, universities, colleges, polytechnics and coaching centres were directed to constitute anti-drug clubs. Justice Sharma also ordered coordination among schools, the police, hospitals and rehab centres.

The school management, principals and teachers would also be sensitised to look out for peddlers and report them to the police. Justice Sharma asked local intelligence units to keep a watch on shops, including dhabas, vends and tea stalls.