Last Updated: 29 April 2025

Issue:
1> Delayed trial court cases
2> Non-appearance of even official witnesses in NDPS(Drugs) cases

Punjab: 16,149 NDPS cases were still under trial even 2 years after framing of charges* as of 23 October 2023^[1]

Highest Conviction rate of 86% in NDPS* cases under AAP^[2]
-- 89% from 1 March to 28 April 2025 as ^[3]
-- 82.5% in 2024^[4] and 81% Conviction rate in 2023^[5]

Congress and Akali-BJP rule
-- Meagre 58% under Congress, 59% in 2018^[2:1]

-- Only 40% during Akali-BJP government^[2:2]

*_{NDPS = Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act}

¶ Reforms

1. A cop as witness can seek only 1 adjournment in court^[1:1]

• DSPs of the respective areas would have to ensure that witnesses appear before courts
• The criminal cases can be registered against those not wilfully appearing as witnesses
• Any police officer facing disciplinary proceedings about drugs cases would not be appointed
  -- neither as probe officer in drugs cases
  -- nor SHO(station house officer)
• A state-level monitoring committee formed under the officer not below the rank of the ADGP to monitor trials & other aspects
  -- The committee would meet monthly
• Any cop found harbouring/assisting drug accused persons would be dismissed & similar punishment for those officers who shelter them

2. Exclusive NDPS Act Courts^[3:1]

• Proposal to establish 30 such courts
• Expected annual expenditure of Rs 22.8 crores

References:

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1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/nonappearance-of-cops-in-drug-trials-charges-framed-but-over-16-000-ndps-cases-pending-for-more-than-two-years-in-punjab-101698865825601.html ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Mar/11/11-days-since-start-of-anti-drug-campaign-punjab-police-register-1072-firs-under-ndps-act ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

3. https://yespunjab.com/dgp-gaurav-yadav-calls-review-meeting-with-all-cps-and-ssps/ ↩︎ ↩︎

4. https://yespunjab.com/cm-mann-seeks-amit-shahs-intervention-for-setting-up-special-ndps-courts-to-check-drug-menace/ ↩︎

5. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=186225 ↩︎