Sensitise drug peddlers with ill-effects on users: Court

Noting that drug addiction has spread like an epidemic, a court here has asked government and other authorities to ponder over the manner for sensitising drug traffickers with the ill-effect and pain of an addict.

Noting that there is no provision under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the court has asked jail officials to take convicts of such cases to hospitals and drugs de-addiction centres so that they may see the pain and agony of victims.

"In the interest of the society, it is for government and all the concerned, including prison authorities to ponder over the manner in which such-like drug traffickers can be sensitized of the pain and agony of a drug addict," said Special Judge, NDPS cases, Narinder Kumar Friday.

The court's observation came while convicting a 65-year-old drug peddler Mohammad Qayyum and sentencing him to 10 years rigorous imprisonment. It also slapped a Rs.1 lakh fine on him.

The court ruled that drug traffickers need to be sensitised about the ill-effects of narcotic drugs by making them feel and realize the suffering of drug consumers.

"This court feels that convicts in such cases, while they undergo sentence in jail, should be taken to hospitals or drug de-addiction centres periodically, so that they may themselves see the pain and agony of victims of drug menace," the judge said.

It added the prison authorities should arrange to display visuals depicting the conditions in which drug addicts suffer for such offenders while they are undergoing their jail sentences.

It said that that visuals will leave an indelible impression and after coming out from jail, convicts may opt not to indulge in drug peddling again.

The court observed that drug addiction has spread like an epidemic and affected people at every strata of the society. An addict finds it difficult to survive without drugs and even their family members suffer pain and agony, it said.

According to police, Qayyum was caught red-handed with 500 grams of heroin May 19, 2013 near Delite cinema hall in Daryaganj area of central Delhi. Police contended that he was carrying the heroin for sale.