How many drug de-addiction centres are running in J&K: HC asks Govt

Srinagar, Nov 13  : The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Wednesday directed the Commissioner Secretary, Home Department, as well as the Director, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), to file an affidavit indicating the number of drug de-addiction centres running in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Chowdhary sought the affidavit by or before December 30 while hearing on its motion a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking intervention for drug de-addiction in J&K.

The direction came after the court went through the status report dated August 20 filed by senior AAG S S Nanda wherein it was contended that certain related posts had been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for recruitment.

The court also directed the authorities to indicate in the affidavit the current status of the posts referred to JKPSC.

In the previous hearing, the court referred to the order it had passed on December 27, 2022, wherein the authorities had been directed to file a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR), indicating the steps taken by them regarding the qualitative and quantitative overhauling of the Forensic Science Laboratories in J&K and Ladakh and also steps required to be taken for de-addiction.

The court had noted that “one status report was filed on February 27, 2023, by the Director, Forensic Science Laboratories, J&K, indicating the steps undertaken for qualitative and quantitative overhauling of the Forensic Science Laboratories.

In the status report, it was stated that the process had been initiated for filling up the vacancies.

Another status report dated July 15, 2023, was filed by the Special Director General of Police, Crime Branch, J&K, indicating the action undertaken by the respondents to check the menace of drugs under the directions issued by this court from time to time.

However, the court was informed that the authorities had not filed any status report about the steps taken for de-addiction to date and that de-addiction centres were not functioning properly, as such, the very purpose for which such centres had been established, was getting defeated.

Subsequently, the court directed the authorities to file the status report about the functioning of the de-addiction centres being run either by the government or by private individuals or NGOs in J&K and Ladakh.

The court had also ordered authorities to inform it whether the vacancies had been filled in the Forensic Science Laboratories or not.

In 2021, the High Court closed a PIL saying it was satisfied with the government’s approach in dealing with the drug menace and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the setting up of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres in Jammu and Kashmir.