No more drug and alcohol abuse in the State, says Uttarakhand High Court

Directions are issued to check drug peddling and drug abuse in Uttarakhand by the Uttarakhand High Court. Considering the urgent need to curb drug abuse in educational institutions, the State was directed to ensure that a policeman in non-uniform / plain clothes is assigned to be around each educational institute, between 8 am to 6 pm. The senior most teacher of every such institute was also directed to be appointed as the nodal-officer who would counsel the students every week about the bad effects of drugs.

The petition before the Court was originally filed only for one liquor vendor, which was in the vicinity of a hospital, girls college and a Government museum. However, the Court enlarged the scope in the larger interest of public and tried to ensure that no liquor shop is issued a license, or is open and operational contravening the rules made for such vendors.

The Court also expressed concerns regarding the availability of heroin, charas and even other artificial drugs to the students. It directed the police to make sure that such drugs are not available to student community. Smuggling of drugs into Uttarakhand from adjacent States was also directed to be checked.

The Court also gave the opinion that the main peddlars and providers in the drug business should be booked under Money Laundering Act, 2002. The Court also directed the Principal Secretary (Home) of the Govt. of Uttarakhand to issue directions to all investigating officers in the State to charge those accused of such activities under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in order to curb the abuse of drug.

The following mandatory directions issued by the Court are also to be carried out:

1. Constituting Special Operations Group

2. Appointing Drug Inspectors within 3 months

3. Setting up special check post at the Indo-Nepal Border

4. Launching awareness drives

5. Uprooting of marijuana found in the wild

6. Providing latest kits to investigating officers

7. Establishing Rehabilitation Centres

8. Counseling students in schools

9. Raiding of medical shops, industries, etc

10. Cancelling liquor license if supplied to minors

11. Ensuring compliance of liquor vends with the laws