Supreme Court Seeks Government Response on NDPS Act Reforms Amid Drug Trafficking Concerns

On Monday, the Supreme Court of India expressed its alarm over the increasing incidents of drug abuse and trafficking throughout the nation. The Bench, consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana, has called for responses from both the central and state governments regarding a petition advocating for reforms in the enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

CJI Surya Kant remarked, “It is a very concerning situation. After all, it is up to the law and order machinery, and it is spreading across the country.” Justice Bagchi highlighted the issue of cross-border drug trafficking, particularly from the Golden Crescent region, which includes parts of Asia such as Afghanistan and Burma. “All these things are very relevant. With the international border as India has, you see the Golden Crescent, you see in Burma and in Afghanistan,” he noted.

The petition, filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, underscores the far-reaching implications of drug and substance abuse in India. Upadhyay argues that this menace not only jeopardizes the health of the youth but also poses a threat to national security due to the connection between drug trafficking and terror financing.

During the hearing, Upadhyay emphasized the urgent need for reforms, citing frequent news reports of drug-related crimes. “I subscribe to English and Hindi newspapers. One common thing news – drug addict kills his parents or father,” he stated. He advocates for the implementation of a mandatory timeline for forensic science laboratory (FSL) report submissions in all NDPS cases. Additionally, he proposed the establishment of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for search, seizure, and sampling in cases involving small and intermediate drug quantities.

The petition further calls for the formation of an expert committee tasked with the identification and timely scheduling of new psychotropic substances. Upadhyay also seeks the development of a SOP for conducting investigations and trials in drug cases promptly. The plea requests directives for the timely confiscation of assets belonging to traffickers, financiers, and their families.

This legal initiative is a significant step towards addressing the pervasive issues of drug trafficking and substance abuse in India. The Supreme Court’s involvement underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for comprehensive reforms in the NDPS Act.