Punjab makes dope test a must for all govt employees

ASKS CHIEF SECRETARY TO WORK OUT MODALITIES AND IGET NOTIFICATION ISSUED

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a mandatory dope test on all government employees, including police personnel, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service.

The chief minister has directed the chief secretary to work out the modalities and issue necessary notification in this regard.

According to an official spokesperson, Amarinder has ordered a mandatory drug screening in all cases of recruitment and promotions, as well as the annual medical examination that certain employees are required to undergo in accordance with the nature of their duties. The orders came on a day the chief minister formally communicated his cabinet’s recommendation to the Centre, seeking amendment to the NDPS Act to provide for death penalty for first-time offenders too.

After CM’S announcement, rural development, panchayati raj and urban development minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa said he would get his dope test done on Thursday. Bajwa had on Tuesday strongly advocated the need to make dope test mandatory for all Punjab Police official. “I’m going for my dope test as I feel that all politicians should also get it (test) done,” said Bajwa. Punjab has nearly 3.5 lakh government employee and the dope test has already been made mandatory for recruitment of constables and sub-inspectors in Punjab Police. Recently, it was made mandatory for all arms licence applicants. The test conducted for police recruitments checks the use of morphine (opium based drugs), amphetamine (performance drugs), cannabis (marijuana), benzodiazepine (sleeping pills), propoxyphene (pain killers) and multiple drugs.

CM WRITES TO CENTRE, RECOMMENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR PEDDLERS

Amarinder on Wednesday wrote to Union home minister Rajnath Singh recommending death penalty for first-time drug smugglers and peddlers.

In his letter, the CM stressed on the need to strengthen the existing enforcement measures to provide for more deterrent punishment to the offenders.