Amarinder orders overhauling of prosecution in NDPS cases

A day after the Punjab and Haryana High court expressed concern over the lackadaisical manner of prosecution of drug-related cases in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has ordered an overhaul of the system.

Taking a serious note of the high court's concerns, Singh asked the state Advocate General Atul Nanda to "pursue the matter in right earnestness" and examine the prevailing loopholes in prosecution of the criminal cases, specially the drug-related ones, said an official press release.

With Punjab reeling under the drug menace, the issue of narcotics smuggling ranks high on the priority list on Punjab CM.

Only a day before the high court expressed its concern over the manner of prosecution of the NDPS cases right in his presence in the courtroom, Singh had decided to approach the centre to seek changes in the law to provide for death penalty to drug peddlers.

 

Acting swiftly on the Chief Minister's instruction, Punjab AG Nanda today wrote to the Prosecution and Litigation Department director and called for a report from various districts to ascertain the factual position and practices in prosecution of drug-related offences.

Describing high court's concerns as an issue of "grave concern", the AG also sought the comments and suggestions of Director Vijay Singla "so that the matter may be taken forward at the earliest, preferably within two weeks."

The AG's letter was also marked to Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) N S Kalsi, apart from DGP Suresh Arora and ADGP, STF (Drugs) Harpreet Singh Sidhu, the release added.

The AG's letter, written today, also referred to yesterday's incident in which the court had expressed concern over the manner of prosecution of drug-related cases right in the presence of the chief minister.

Singh had appeared in the court of Justice Daya Choudhary yesterday to make his deposition in an old election petition, challenging his election to the Patiala Urban constituency in the 2002 assembly polls.

While the Chief Minister was awaiting his turn for hearing of the petition against him, the court was hearing an NDPS case, in which the prosecution had failed to attach the CFSL report to the chargesheet.

The prosecution failure to submit the CFSL report to the court along with the chargesheet had prompted the court to ask AG Atul Nanda, who had been accompanying Singh for his deposition, to consider creating changes in the manner of prosecution of such cases.

The court had further observed, "We would like to take advantage of the presence of the Chief Minister" and urge him to look into the matter to ensure better dispensation of justice in criminal cases by the courts.

Soon after the issue was brought to Singh's notice by the court, he directed the AG to personally look into the matter and ensure that the system is streamlined and there are no such loopholes in prosecution in drug-related matters.