Now Reading: Plea seeks time-bound NDPS probes, property seizure; SC to hear Monday
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Plea seeks time-bound NDPS probes, property seizure; SC to hear Monday
The Supreme Court will hear a PIL on Monday seeking directions to strengthen anti-drug trafficking measures. Filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the petition demands time-bound investigations and trials under the Narcotic…
The Story in Brief
The Supreme Court will hear a PIL on Monday seeking directions to strengthen anti-drug trafficking measures. Filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the petition demands time-bound investigations and trials under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, mandatory forensic report timelines, and confiscation of traffickers' properties. It also calls for standard operating procedures for search and seizure, special courts for speedy trials, and a graded sentencing policy distinguishing traffickers from addicts.
The petition cites a 53% rise in drug cases in 2025 and seizure of 1,240 tonnes of narcotic substances. It argues the existing framework lacks uniform investigation standards and coordination among enforcement agencies, leading to delayed prosecutions and acquittals. The plea also seeks creation of rehabilitation centres and an expert committee to regulate new psychoactive substances.
The Indian Opinion
This plea ticks familiar boxes: timelines, special courts, and property confiscation. Yet India's drug problem is as much about demand as enforcement. The 53% rise in cases and 1,240 tonnes seized suggest something is failing. An expert committee may help identify new substances, but will it address why addicts lack rehabilitation centres? The real test is whether the court orders a graded sentencing policy that separates petty users from kingpins. Without that, confiscation targets only the low-hanging fruit.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
