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This is an archive article published on January 22, 2025
Punjab police offer de-addiction route for drug users caught under NDPS Act
A court has ordered that individuals apprehended with small quantities of drugs and voluntarily seeking de-addiction treatment may have their prosecution deferred, as provided under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act.
Manufacturing Alprazolam is restricted in India and is an offence under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The Fatehgarh Sahib police in Punjab have launched an initiative to rehabilitate drug addicts caught with small quantities of narcotics like heroin. In Mandi Gobindgarh, nine addicts have agreed to undergo treatment after being motivated by the police. Officials said that upon successful completion of treatment, their trials could be set off.
On January 14, a court in Amloh Sub-Division ordered that individuals apprehended with small quantities of drugs and voluntarily seeking de-addiction treatment may have their prosecution deferred, as provided under Section 64-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Grewal said the initiative aims to help drug users reform.
“We motivate the addicts and their families to begin treatment at de-addiction centres. So far, nine addicts have agreed, and if they complete their treatment, we will request the court to drop their trials under Section 64-A of the NDPS Act,” Grewal said.
Advocate Baljinder Singh Saini explained that Section 64-A provides immunity to addicts voluntarily seeking treatment for small-quantity drug offences. However, this immunity is conditional upon the completion of the prescribed de-addiction programme. Failure to complete treatment can lead to resumption of prosecution.
In a case involving an addict named Bansa, the court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Parsmeet Rishi ruled that the facts met the provisions of Section 64-A. Medical records confirmed the addict’s dependence on drugs, and the court ordered his admission to a de-addiction centre. The court further directed that the investigating officer submit treatment reports, adding that immunity would apply only upon satisfactory completion of the programme.
Inspector Arshdeep Sharma, Station House Officer of Mandi Gobindgarh, said the police identified addicts and moved applications in court as part of the SSP’s directions.
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