HC terms Haryana’s report on drug peddlers an eyewash
Says unless main sources are identified, fight against drugs will not be successful
Our impression is drugs controllers have not been performing their duties and… (have been) hobnobbing with firms and chemists. PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday questioned a report submitted by Haryana government in which it had claimed that a total of 491 ‘sources’ had been identified by the police that were supplying drugs in the recent past.
The high court bench of justice Surya Kant and justice Sudip Ahluwalia, which was hearing a suo motu petition initiated to monitor steps taken by Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to fight the menace, termed the report as an ‘eyewash’ and observed that small drug peddlers were shown as ‘sources’ by the state police. The report was submitted in a sealed cover.
“Punjab (often) accuses you. But you don’t know (about the sources of drugs),” the high court bench said in the open court, adding that certain firms running in Haryana have been accused of manufacturing banned substances.
The court observed that unless main sources are identified and action is taken against them, fight against the menace will not be successful as peddlers, whom the state police have shown as sources, are mainly poor people and will later be replaced by another set of people, if arrested.
Inspector general of police (IGP) crime, Saurabh Singh, gave details about the difficulties being faced by police and said many of the drugs per-se are not illegal. He also hinted towards lack of support from department of food and drugs administration.
“Our impression is (department of) drugs controllers (officers) have not been performing their duties and…(have been) hobnobbing with these (firms and chemists),” the court said, asking the IGP to take due steps in curbing the problem and apprise court of difficulties being faced.
During the hearing, principal secretary, social justice and empowerment department, Amit Jha was also present.
The HC also asked him to examine whether some schemes could be introduced for the addicts or peddlers so that they could be made financial independent nullifying the chances of them falling prey again to the illegal trade.
The high court also directed the state to appoint a nodal officer of the rank of additional chief secretary for better co-ordination between different agencies of state and also with other states.
During the hearing, the state told the court that as many as 1,400-1,500 cases are being registered of drug seizure every year. The problem is mainly in bordering areas of Rajasthan and Punjab and named Sirsa, Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind, Kurukshetra, Kaithal,Bhiwali and Ambala as areas where maximum cases are being reported.
He also told the court that state has constituted a task force headed by IGP (crime) and designated officers at various levels. He said necessary infrastructure is also being provided and forensic labs are to be established at Hisar, Ambala, Rohtak and Gurgaon and more de-addiction centres will be set up.