Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 1: Expressing its serious displeasure with State Government for not framing the drug de-addiction policy, the High Court has directed the Central Government for examining the issue in tune with court directions and sought response from GoI on next date.
The Division Bench of High Court termed the act of the State Government as “unfortunate” for not framing the drug de-addiction policy despite the PIL is pending for the last more than 13 years before the court.
DB recorded “it is unfortunate that despite the matter is pending for the last 13 years, even a policy on a critical issue on drug de-addiction has not been framed till date.”
Therefore, it sought indulgence of Government of India and directed them to examine the issue in terms of its directions passed on April 4 this year. “Urgent steps are required to be taken on this extremely serious matter and file response within four weeks”, DB directed.
As the State Counsel submitted that State Government is seeking allocation of funds from the Central Government on the issue, court said, it fails to understand as to what funds are required to frame the policy on drug de-addiction.
In the absence of a drug de-addiction policy, court added, there cannot be any projection with regard to the manner in which the project would be conceptualized, including the geographical distribution and location of the de-addiction centers.
On perusal of the status report filed by the Principal Secretary to Government H&ME department, which revealed that the respondents have passed a Government order No. 479-HME of 2018 constituting a committee to draft a drug de-adiction policy for the State which is consisting of 19 members. A sub-committee thereof was constituted also comprising 3 members. But nothing has been brought before the court about the framing of policy till date.
Court said the directions passed by the court have not been complied with. Court had directed the Government to delineate on various methods to curb the menace of drug de-addiction which has been looming large in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and passed the direction to ensure the establishment of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centers.
As to the effectiveness of de-addiction centers is concerned Government is under court direction to regularly monitor the centers as such Chief Secretary was directed to hold regular meetings with the concerned department and NGOs so that the issue relating drug de-addiction and the impact on the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir State is addressed.
Essentially Government has been directed to revisit the drug de-addiction policy in the State and provide a more comprehensive mechanism to address this malady.
In this regard the Jammu and Kashmir Police under Civic Action Programme is receiving funds to the tune of Rs 500 lakhs annually which are being utilized for honorarium for two drug de-addiction centre’s at Jammu and Srinagar.
It is proposed to establish 23 new drug de-addiction centers among all the remaining districts of the State for which an amount of Rs.656.19 lakh (@Rs.28.53 lakh for each DDC) will be involved. However, the drug policy is not in place.
It is in tune with court directions Joint Secretary, (J&K Affairs), Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, has to respond to the proposal of the State Government keeping in mind the situation prevailing in the State of J&K for establishing drug de-addiction centers in various districts of the State.
State has been directed to ensure projections regarding the number of de-addiction centers which are required, their locations and standard designs is placed before this court as also time-lines within which they will be set-up.
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