No objection, include politicians: Punjab official on dope test of govt employees

A Punjab state government official on Thursday said officials have no objection to the dope test ordered by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for government employees, including police personnel. However, he added that politicians should not be exempted from the same.

"We have no objection to dope test. We demand government notification should also include the chief minister, ministers, MLAs, party presidents and their workers. Why should they be excluded?" said President of Punjab Civil Secretariat Association SK Khehra.

Amarinder Singh passed the order passed on Wednesday citing the drug menace prevalent in the state.

According to an official spokesperson, Singh has ordered drug screening to be mandatorily done in all cases of recruitment and promotions, as well as the annual medical examination that certain employees are required to undergo in accordance with the nature of their duties. He has directed the chief secretary to work out the modalities and have the necessary notification issued in this regard.

Further, the dope test would also be made a mandatory part of the annual medical examination of all civilian and police employees of the Punjab government, wherever prescribed, the spokesperson added.

The move is part of a series of initiatives taken by Singh over the last three days to eliminate drug menace from Punjab.

The orders came on the day when the Punjab Chief Minister formally communicated his Cabinet's recommendation to the Centre, seeking an amendment to the NDPS Act to provide for the death penalty for first-time offenders too.

Singh has already issued a strict warning to drug smugglers and peddlers to give up their nefarious activities or face stringent action.