HC slams 'arrest quotas' in drug crackdown, warns of innocents being framed

Less than a week after the Punjab Director-General of Police announced that the performance of police officials would be assessed based on assigned targets in the ongoing anti-drug drive, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, warned that the move would create a draconian scenario where innocents would be made victims of false implication to meet arrest quotas.

The court categorically held that such a policy would fuel unchecked abuse of authority, derailing the very objective of the anti-drug campaign.

“As far as the present scenario of Punjab is concerned, the anti-drug drive is a welcoming step to combat the rising menace which is rotting the Indian youth. But in cases where the performances of the police authorities will be assessed based on completion of quantified targets, this court has no hesitation in saying that such an approach will create a barbaric situation wherein the innocent person would be made a scapegoat to achieve one’s target,” Justice Sandeep Moudgil asserted.

The assertion came after the court took note of a news-report dated March 18, explicitly quoting DGP Gaurav Yadav as saying that the performance of SSPs and SHOs would be assessed based on the number of arrests and seizures in the ongoing anti-drug operation.

Expressing grave concern, Justice Moudgil asserted: “This incremental approach by law enforcement authorities can be likened to a bounty, which, rather than curbing the drug trade, may inadvertently facilitate its expansion at an accelerated rate due to the focus on meeting quantified targets.”

The court acknowledged that combating the drug menace was necessary but warned against target-driven policing. “Such assessments would definitely lead to misusing of powers by the police authority, and the essence of the anti-drug drive would be lost in the urge of achieving a commendable ACR,” the court added.

The Bench was hearing a bail plea in a case registered on April 22, 2024, registered under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act at Special Task Force police station in Sector 79 in Mohali district.

Granting bail to the accused, Justice Moudgil noted undue delay in trial. The court observed that the charge sheet was filed on October 9, 2024, charges were framed on October 30, 2024, and none of the 15 prosecution witnesses had been examined so far.

“Meaning thereby, conclusion of trial shall take considerable time. No useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind the bars for an indefinite period, which would curtail his right for speedy trial and expeditious disposal, as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India as has been time and again discussed by this Court,” the order stated, while directing the petitioner to be released on regular bail.