Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Mohan Lal has upheld the detention under PSA of Anil Sharma, a drug peddler.
After hearing Advocate Sunny Mahajan for the appellant whereas Deputy AG Deewakar Sharma for the UT, DB observed, “instant case relates to illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The drug problem is a serious threat to public health, economy and growth of humanity”, adding “our global community is facing serious consequences of drug abuse and it undermines the socio- economic and political stability and sustainable development”.
“Besides, it also distorts the health and fabric of the society and it is considered to be the originator for petty offences as well as heinous crimes like smuggling of arms & ammunition and money laundering. The involvement of various terrorist groups and syndicates in drug trafficking leads to threat to the national security and sovereignty of States by the way of Narco-terrorism”, the DB said, adding “the drug trafficking and abuse has continued its significant toll on valuable human lives and productive years of many persons around the globe”.
“With the growth and development of world economy, drug traffickers are also seamlessly trafficking various type of drugs from one corner to other ensuring the availability of the contrabands for vulnerable segment of the society who fall into the trap of drug peddlers and traffickers. Due to India’s close proximity with major opium growing areas of the region, India is facing serious menace of drug trafficking and as a spillover effect, drug abuse especially among the youth is a matter of concern for us”, the DB said.
“In the instant case the act of detenue relates to drug trafficking, which has posed serious threat, apart from health and welfare of the people, to youth, most particularly unemployed youth, to indulge in such acts, ramifications thereof would be irreversible and unimaginable. Appellant/writ petitioner has not been able to convincingly point out violation of any statutory or constitutional provisions”, the DB said, adding “so far as the contention of the counsel for the appellant/writ petitioner that the non consideration of the representation filed by the petitioner before the competent authority while confirming the detention order is concerned, the said contention has been satisfactorily addressed by the Single Judge and needs not be dealt with any further”.
With these observations, the appwal was dismissed for being devoid of any merit.