LG Ladakh approves formation of screening committee under PITNDPS Act

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, June 24: In a major step aimed at strengthening the legal and administrative framework to combat drug trafficking, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has approved the constitution of a screening committee under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988.

The Committee will undertake prior scrutiny of preventive detention proposals submitted by sponsoring agencies such as the police, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), customs authorities and other enforcement agencies in cases involving illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

According to the administration, the committee will examine the evidence, assess the gravity of offences, evaluate the adequacy of material placed on record and make recommendations to the competent authority on whether preventive detention is warranted. It will also assess whether the accused poses a genuine threat to public order. The panel is expected to enhance inter-agency coordination and reinforce the overall enforcement framework against organized drug trafficking in the Union Territory.

The PITNDPS Act provides for preventive detention of individuals engaged in illicit drug trafficking. However, Ladakh has so far lacked a formally constituted screening committee for prior examination of detention proposals under the Act. Officials noted that the absence of such a mechanism could result in procedural inconsistencies and increase the likelihood of detention orders being challenged on legal and procedural grounds.

Recognizing this gap and drawing upon best practices followed elsewhere in the country, the LG approved the formation of the committee to ensure due diligence, procedural uniformity and greater legal sustainability of detention orders.

Emphasizing the seriousness of the drug menace, Saxena said drug abuse poses a significant threat to Ladakh’s youth and social fabric. While rehabilitation and awareness remain crucial components of the administration’s strategy, he stressed that there can be no compromise in taking firm action against those involved in illicit narcotics trafficking.