SC Urges Punjab to Go After 'Big Fish' in Drug Trade as NDPS Cases Rise
SC Urges Punjab to Go After 'Big Fish' in Drug Trade as NDPS Cases Rise
The Supreme Court rebukes Punjab for failing to curb major drug traffickers as NDPS cases surge, calling for strategy overhaul and exclusive courts.
The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Punjab government for not catching the 'big sharks' in drug trafficking, saying the rise in NDPS cases is alarming and the police should revisit its strategy to tackle it before the problem spirals further. The bench stressed that the state must move beyond small-time peddlers and target the major players fueling a nationwide syndicate.
It was part of a suo motu petition seeking exclusive courts for trials under NDPS, NIA Act and other special laws. The CJI, Surya Kant, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked Punjab's advocate general, Maninderjeet Singh Bedi, what steps the state is taking to identify and pursue the big traffickers, noting that these actors operate across borders and within a well-entrenched network.
Public security concerns aside, the court pressed the Punjab police for not making genuine attempts to dismantle the operation. 'Your police are more interested in publicity. Everyone knows whom they are picking up and whom they are letting off,' the bench remarked, urging a shift from publicity stunts to root-level action and inter-state coordination.
Punjab officials argued they were intensifying measures to curb the drug menace, but the bench remained unsatisfied and called for a clear plan to reach the top of the supply chain and to criminalize the larger syndicate more effectively. The court noted that exclusive courts could help speed up trials under NDPS and related laws, provided there is seamless cooperation among states and agencies.
Beyond legal mechanics, the hearing highlighted the human toll—families shattered by addiction and loss—reminding the court that courage and accountability must accompany reforms. The decision, the judges implied, is not merely procedural but a test of political will and institutional capacity.
As the high-stakes case unfolded, the court invited further suggestions on how to structure trials for NDPS and NIA Act cases, underscoring that defeating a deeply rooted drug-mafia requires relentless, cross-border collaboration and a clear commitment to ending the crime at its source.
