Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 24: A Division Bench of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, consisting of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Mohd Yousaf Wani, upheld the acquittal in a case under the NDPS Act. The Bench noted that a lax approach by investigating agencies in NDPS cases fosters a sense of insecurity and diminishes public confidence in the criminal justice system.
The Bench directed that investigations into NDPSA cases should now be conducted by a specialized team of officers trained specifically for this purpose, led by an officer of at least Sub-Inspector rank, under the close supervision of a gazetted officer who will monitor the investigation’s daily progress and provide written guidelines to the team.
Moreover, the Bench emphasized that the Home Department should ensure that a number of qualified officers are sent for refresher courses to understand Drug Law Administration and enforcement, including the NDPS and PITNDPS Acts and their associated regulations.
While the Bench acknowledged the efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department in issuing Circular No. 02-Home of 2017 on September 25, 2017, which outlines the Standard Operating Procedures for NDPS cases, it expressed hope that these procedures would be effectively implemented.
