New Delhi, May 8 The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over the growing drug menace in Punjab, pulling up the state authorities for allegedly failing to act against influential persons involved in narcotics trafficking while targeting only small-time peddlers for "publicity".
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the observations while hearing a suo motu matter concerning the creation of exclusive courts across the country for expeditious disposal of trials under special statutes, including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
During the hearing, the CJI-headed Bench referred to recent reports highlighting the devastating impact of drug addiction in Punjab and remarked that the situation in the state had become "terrible".
"See what we read. A mother is crying. She lost her fifth son to drugs. She lost all her children to drug addiction," the apex court observed orally, stressing that police authorities needed to be "sensitised".
The apex court said that enforcement agencies appeared more focused on arresting low-level offenders for publicity while failing to act against those operating larger drug syndicates.
"The bigger sharks or influential ones should be arrested. The issue is, you get hold of a small person, and police get publicity in newspapers," the bench remarked.
It further observed that the increase in NDPS-related cases was "so alarming" that the situation required reconsideration by all stakeholders, including the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
"We will ensure all High Courts are provided help to create NDPS courts," the Supreme Court said, stressing the need for strengthening specialised judicial infrastructure to deal with the mounting caseload under the NDPS Act.
The top court also expressed concern over the functioning of the Punjab Police, remarking that it was widely known "who is being arrested and who is being let out".
"Your (Punjab) police is more keen on getting publicity in the newspaper. They catch hold of a small villager, a poor boy, get him photographed and come in the newspaper," the bench observed orally.
Referring to Ludhiana, the apex court remarked that certain markets in the city had become an "epicentre" of the drug trade and questioned why authorities were not addressing the root of the problem. It also indicated that intervention by the Central government may become necessary to curb the narcotics crisis, while cautioning against viewing such involvement through a political lens.
"Perhaps Central government intervention may be needed. But when they do intervene, do not think as if the Centre is interfering. The common goal should be to curb the drug menace," it said.
The apex court further suggested the creation of a statutory coordination mechanism to enable information-sharing among agencies across states in cases involving organised narcotics networks operating on a pan-India basis.
During the hearing, CJI Surya Kant, who had earlier served as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, also referred to his past experience in dealing with NDPS cases and recalled receiving threats from "nasty people" while passing orders in such matters.
After hearing the parties, the Supreme Court passed directions laying down a broad framework for the constitution of special courts based on the pendency of cases under special statutes in different states and Union Territories (UTs).
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