Establishment of Drug De-addiction, Rehabilitation Centres
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: Division Bench of High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sindhu Sharma today granted last opportunity to the Government for filing a definite action plan with regard to establishment of Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centres in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir within eight weeks.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, Division Bench observed, “despite repeated opportunities since April 2018 the matter has not moved a whit although the issues raised in this Public Interest Litigation are extremely important”.
“In the affidavit filed on behalf of the Health and Medical Education Department on 26th of September 2019 it is stated that almost more than two lakh persons in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir need urgent professional help so far as drug de-addition is concerned”, the DB further observed, adding “time has been repeatedly sought on behalf of the Ministry of Social Justice and Women Empowerment, Government of India, for placing its consideration on record. Even this has not been done”.
The Division Bench further said, “the Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has also not made any effort to identify areas where urgent steps need to be taken in relation to establishment of Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centres and the counsel for the parties appearing for the Ministry of Social Justice and Women Empowerment as well as the authorities of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir yet again seek time”.
While granting last opportunity of eight weeks, the DB directed that the authorities of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir shall place before this court a definite action plan with regard to establishment of Drug De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centres in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the geographic location of the premises where such centres are to be located as well as the premises where the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir proposes to house these centres.
The DB made it clear that in case the needful is not done in the matter, the Director of Ministry of Social Justice and Women Empowerment, Government of India, and Secretary of the Department of Health and Medical Education, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, shall remain personally present on the next date of hearing.
“The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has started a campaign with regard to awareness on menace of drugs which is restricted to Srinagar and Baramulla districts. The respondents shall also file a status report with regard to this campaign as well and action plan for implementation of a similar awareness campaign in other districts of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir before the next date of hearing”, the DB directed.
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