Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 24: A Division Bench of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Mohd Yousaf Wani, while upholding the acquittal in NDPS Act, observed that a casual approach of the investigating agencies in NDPS cases creates a sense of insecurity and undermine the faith of the common man in the administration of the criminal justice.
The DB further ordered that investigation of cases under NDPSA be henceforth conducted by a specialized cell/team of officers specifically trained to deal with cases under the NDPS Act with an officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector as its head under the close supervision of a gazetted officer who shall monitor the progress of investigation on day to day basis and issue written guidelines to the team.
The DB also said that a good number of the qualified and competent officers should be sent for refresher courses by Home Department to learn the Drug Law Administration and enforcement including NDPS and PITNDPS Acts and Rules framed thereunder.
The DB, however, appreciated the efforts of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir Home Department in issuing the Circular No. 02-Home of 2017 dated 25.09.2017 prescribing the Standard Operating Procedure(s) to be followed in NDPS cases and expect that same shall be pressed into service.
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