Govt to make NDPS Act more stringent in HP

DHARAMSHALA :The state government on Wednesday introduced a bill proposing an amendment in the application of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, in Himachal Pradesh (HP). The government intends to make possession of small quantity of drugs a non-bailable offence.

Presently, Section 37 of the NDPS Act, 1985, states no person accused of an offence punishable under Sections 19, 24, 27A or offences involving commercial quantity drugs will be released on bail without giving them an opportunity of being heard by the public prosecutor.

People booked under other sections of the Act or for offences involving drugs of a lower quantity were typically granted bail.

Introduced by chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, the NDPS (HP amendment) bill, 2018, states that the high court in its judgement dated July 19, in a writ petition on its own motion, had directed that the public prosecutor should oppose bail for people apprehended with small quantities of drugs.

Adhering to the judgement, the bill intends to make all the offences under the Act, including offences involving small quantities of drugs, a non-bailable offence.

The bill states that since HP is a small land-locked state, the introduction of even small quantities of drugs will have far reaching repercussions on the society.