Bar drug peddlers’ ‘kin’ from poll: HC

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, July 26

Taking a serious note on drug menace in the state, the High Court today directed the state to make suitable amendments to the HP Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, and the HP Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, within six months debarring the “relatives” of those, who are convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, from contesting elections to the local bodies.

Apart from this, to check the illegal transportation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the court today directed the Principal Secretary (Home) to constitute a special task force in the worst-affected districts of the state consisting of IPS officer, DSP, inspectors/sub-inspectors and head constables in order to arrest drug peddlers.

It further directed that all the investigations in those cases where quantity of contraband was more than the ‘commercial quantities’ were ordered to be supervised by the Superintendent of Police concerned personally. The court further directed the Principal Secretary (Home) that the special task force should be constituted within a period of three weeks from today.

The court directed the DGP to issue directions to all investigating officers to trace the sources of drugs and their final destination within and outside the state.

Passing these directions, a Division Bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur said such persons, from whom these were purchased and the persons to whom these were to be delivered finally, must be booked.