Punjab Prisons Face Alarming Rise in Drug Dependency, P&H High Court Expresses Concern
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised serious concerns about the increasing drug dependency among prisoners in Punjab. The court, in the case of Court On Its Own Motion v. State of Punjab and Others, highlighted the grave situation where many inmates become drug-dependent after entering the prison system.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor noted the lack of effective strategies to help inmates overcome their drug dependencies. The bench emphasized that without appropriate treatment, these individuals may never fully exercise their right to life, as continuous drug dependency could further deteriorate their conditions.
Recent data presented to the court on September 1 revealed that 44% of prisoners in Punjab, equating to 15,768 out of 35,449 inmates, are battling drug addiction. Notably, around 83% of these inmates began receiving treatment through the Out Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment Clinic (OOAT Clinic) only after entering jail.
The bench recorded, “Learned Amicus Curiae has pointed out from the affidavit filed by the State of Punjab on the previous occasion that, at the time of entry into jail, 2540 inmates were already registered under the OOAT Clinic and were being administered tablets/medicines prior to their admission. The number of inmates who presently are drug dependent is 15,768.”
Chief Justice Mishra and Justice Kapoor observed that the data indicates a severe issue within Punjab’s prison system. They stated, “It shows that not only are those entering jail drug-dependent, but there is a growth of almost 4-5 times in the number of jail inmates who become drug dependent after their entry into jail.”
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The court has directed the Punjab government to report on the implementation of a scientific de-addiction program designed to rehabilitate drug-addicted prisoners. Additionally, the court has requested the Union of India to submit methodologies for reintegrating drug-dependent inmates into society.
“We may indicate that this is a serious issue, and we expect the authorities to remain alive to their obligations to help such inmates in securing their right to life under the Constitution of India,” the court asserted.
This suo motu case was initiated in July following a report by the administrative judge of the Mansa Sessions Division in Punjab. The report revealed that a significant number of inmates, who are drug addicts, receive Buprenorphine combined with Naloxone, with prescribed dosages tailored to individual medical needs.
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The findings indicated that out of 767 inmates, 530 are registered with the OOAT Clinic within the jail, underscoring the high prevalence of drug addiction.
Previously, on August 20, the court requested the state to provide details on the total inmate population and those registered with the OOAT Clinic. Advocate Tanu Bedi was appointed as amicus curiae in this matter.
In contrast, data from Haryana prisons showed a different scenario. Out of 27,111 inmates, only 1,295 are drug-dependent, a decrease from a previous count of 1,829, indicating successful treatment interventions.
The court has asked the Punjab government about the availability of trained counselors in jails. Additionally, it directed PGIMER Chandigarh to outline medical protocols for treating drug-dependent inmates.
The bench has scheduled the next hearing for September 15, with appearances from several legal representatives, including Senior Deputy Advocate General Salil Sabhlok for Punjab and Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain for the Union of India.
