The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the rising drug menace situation in Punjab. The Apex court called for a fundamental shift in how the state tackles narcotics, saying that human toll is alarming. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi referred to a recent incident involving a mother who lost all her five sons to drug addiction.
The bench said the drug menace has reached a point where central government intervention may be necessary. The CJI asked both state and central agencies to work toward the singular goal of eradicating the drug menace.
The bench also pulled up state police for focusing on low-level offenders for publicity while allowing major traffickers to remain at large. The apex court also highlighted the huge pendency of cases lodged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. To address this, the bench pledged to facilitate the creation of specialized NDPS courts across all states to expedite trials.