Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 9: High Court has held the decision of the Government directing the drug and pharmacy establishments for installation of CCTV cameras and adoption of computerized billing system as genuine and valid and dismissed the plea challenging the decision.
The grievance of All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists before the court was with regard to the advisory issued by Government on installation of CCTV cameras and adoption of computerized billing system which according to them was coming heavily in the way of conduct of the business by the druggists and is, thus, impacting the chemists.
The authorities while opposing the plea submitted that the directions have been issued to curb the menace of drug abuse as the country as a whole is facing a challenge of drug abuse/illicit trafficking of intoxicating drugs and UT of J&K is not an exception to it.
“When the majority of retail pharmacies and wholesale establishments have installed CCTV cameras and started issuing computerized bills, it is not known who are being represented by petitioner-association in the instant writ petition. It appears that the name of association is being used albeit the majority of drug pharmacies have already adopted installation of CCTV cameras”, Justice V C Koul said.
Justice Koul said that the handful of drug pharmacies through instant writ petition want to defeat the objective of the scheme.
“This petition is hopelessly without any merit and has been filed with some ulterior motive and object. I do not find any merit in the instant petition and the same is, accordingly, dismissed. Interim direction, if any, shall stand vacated”, the court concluded.
The court further added that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been organizing events for Drug Free India. Focus was laid on strict implementation for installation of CCTV cameras in chemist shops selling Scheduled X & H drugs, tobacco free zone of the school areas, awareness and roles to be played by all the stakeholders.
Justice Koul said that it is not understandable how petitioners are aggrieved by the advisory so far as it directs retail pharmacies and/or wholesale drug outlets of UT of J&K to install CCTV cameras and adopt a fully computerized billing system. “The purpose for issuing such advisory is aiming at checking and preventing sale of prohibited drugs used as drug abuse by drug addicts and drug traffickers, who buy it from medical shops/ stores. Thus, installation of CCTV cameras would help in identifying such drug abusers and, obviously, quell such practices besides maintaining computerized bills”, HC added.
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