Implemented stringent act PIT-NDPS after 35 years to fight Drug menace

Last updated: 27 Nov 2024

2 preventive Detentions already executed[1]
-- 89 Proposals already prepared under PIT-NDPS Act as of June 2024

1st Detention by Punjab Police: Notorious drug smuggler Tari detained under PIT-NDPS Act on 26 Oct 2024[2]
-- Tari has been involved in smuggling of 231-kg heroin
-- Already convicted and sentenced in 2 drugs cases

The PIT-NDPS act allows detaining drug lords/suspects for up to 2 years, even incase of strong suspicion by Police with strong evidence[3]
-- Special & Stringent Law for Drugs implemented after 35 years of the law passing[4]

Action[5]

  • Proposals being submitted to the home department
  • Punjab Police has prepared a list of 100 repeat drug traffickers who will be taken into preventive custody
  • This list is in addition to the 75 names submitted by the Border Security Force
  • Even Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had implemented 3 such proposals as of 26 Oct 2024[2:1]

Advisory board under this Act[6]

CM Bhagwant Mann gave a go-ahead to implement the PIT-NDPS on 24 January 2023

Neither Congress govt nor NDA govt showed any interest in implementing it

  • Section 9 provides for constitution of an advisory board for looking into grievances of those being taken into custody
  • 24 January 2023, the Bhagwant Mann-led government constituted the 3-member the board, which has the powers to listen to grievances of those being taken into preventive custody
  • The government has appointed Justice Shabihul Hasnain (retd) as the chairperson of the board and advocates Suveer Sheokand and Divanshu Jain as its members

PIT-NDPS Features[3:1]

  • PIT-NDPS: The stringent act of Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act 1988
  • Section 3 of the Act empowers the government to detain people engaging in illicit trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances

References:

  1. https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2024/11/26/des77-pb-smuggler.html ↩︎

  2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/in-a-first-punjab-cops-detain-smuggler-under-pit-ndps-act-101729884243823.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-police-s-plan-to-go-tough-on-drug-traffickers-hits-home-dept-hurdle-101704826522068.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-police-arrest-drug-smugglers-8658774/ ↩︎

  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/drug-trafficking-punjab-to-tighten-noose-on-over-100-repeat-offenders-101703188423952.html ↩︎

  6. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-mann-govt-to-invoke-law-to-detain-drug-lords-for-up-to-two-years-101676921455529.html ↩︎