Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a law student namely Arthav Mahajan seeking initiation of a special drive by J&K Police to check growing menace of drugs, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur has issued certain directions to SSP Jammu.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Veenu Gupta and Advocate Deepika Mahajan for the PIL, Division Bench observed, “pursuant to the directions given by this court Standard Operating Procedures have been put in place with regard to the recovery and investigation in the cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances”, adding “moreover, two Monitoring Cells have also been established at the provincial level by an order dated 06.02.2018”.
Accordingly, DB directed respondents to file a status report indicating whether the Standard Operating Procedures have been implemented in letter and spirit and the results yielded by this step.
“Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi, appearing as an Amicus Curiae, has submitted that drugs are being supplied to the school and college students and are available in particular areas within Jammu city. He is ready to give the information with regard to these areas”, the DB said while directing the respondents to ensure that the locations pointed out by Amicus Curiae are monitored. A report shall be submitted with regard to the action taken, the DB said.
“It would be appropriate if the SSP Jammu carries out this exercise. Any input that may be necessary from Amicus Curiae would be provided by him. Certain locations where the drugs are alleged to be freely sold are Bahu Plaza, Green Belt Park specifically Panch Mandir lane, Talab Tillo, Batra Road, Gorkha Nagar, Qasim Nagar, Circular Road”, adding “as per the Amicus Curiae even movement of cars from Bajalta up to Surinsar Lake by youngsters in inebriated condition is a daily affair and Police is mum on this matter as such the same may also be got investigated by SSP Jammu”.
“The Police Department may consider constituting a specialized team to deal with the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances cases and file a response in this regard before the next date of hearing”, the DB said.
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