“A Mother Lost All Five Sons To Drugs,” Supreme Court Flags Punjab Crisis

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Friday expressed serious concern over the worsening drug menace in Punjab, observing that the human cost of narcotics addiction in the state has reached alarming levels and may require intervention from the Centre.
A bench comprising Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi referred to a recent incident involving a mother who reportedly lost all her five sons to drug addiction, calling it a disturbing reflection of the crisis affecting the state.
The Chief Justice remarked that the situation demands greater sensitivity from law enforcement agencies and stressed that the focus should remain on eliminating the drug menace rather than political considerations over state and central intervention.
The bench observed that if the Centre steps in to assist in tackling the crisis, it should not be viewed as unnecessary interference, adding that both state and central agencies must work together with the common objective of curbing narcotics trafficking and addiction.
The court also criticised the functioning of the police, stating that authorities often focus on arresting low level offenders for publicity while influential drug traffickers continue to evade action. Justice Surya Kant observed that major operators behind the illegal trade should be targeted instead of only pursuing small time offenders.
During the hearing, the bench highlighted concerns about the growing scale of the drug network in Ludhiana, which it described as a key centre of narcotics activity. The judges noted that despite frequent arrests of minor accused persons, larger syndicates and influential individuals involved in the trade are often not brought to justice.
The Supreme Court also raised concern over the large number of pending cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. To speed up the legal process, the bench said it would support the establishment of dedicated NDPS courts across states to ensure faster trials and stricter enforcement against drug related crimes.