Jammu, Nov 13: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed to file an affidavit, detailing therein how many drug de-addiction Centers are running in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Chowdhary directed the Commissioner Secretary to Government, Home Department, as well as the Director Narcotic Control Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir to do the needful by or before December 30, the next date of hearing in the matter.
The court also an affidavit authorities mentioning therein current status of the posts referred to J&K Public Service Commission.
“One status report was filed on 27.02.2023 by the Director, Forensic Science Laboratories J&K indicating the steps undertaken for qualitative and quantitative overhauling of the Forensic Science Laboratories. In the status report, it is stated that the process has been initiated for filling up the vacancies,” the court had said, adding, “Another status report dated 15.07.2023 was filed by the Special Director General of Police, Crime Branch, J&K indicating the action undertaken by the respondents for the purpose of checking the menace of drugs, pursuant to the directions issued by this Court from time to time.”
However, the court was informed that the authorities have not filed any status report with regard to the steps taken for de-addiction till date and that de-addiction centres are not functioning properly, as such, the very purpose for which such centres have been established, was getting defeated.
Subsequently, the court had directed the authorities to file the status report with regard to the functioning of the de-addiction centres being run either by the Government or by the private individuals/NGOs in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. The court had also directed authorities to inform it whether the vacancies have been filled in the Forensic Science Laboratories or not.
