Chennai - In an effort to combat drug use in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court is considering establishing an inter-departmental monitoring committee. This committee would oversee the Enforcement Bureau-Crime Investigation Department (EB-CID) and advise the state government on curbing the sale of narcotics and psychotropics.

The proposed committee, suggested by Justices D. Krishnakumar and P.B. The division bench suggested a senior officer holding the rank of a government secretary be appointed as the chairperson of the committee. The court has requested nominations for committee members from both the central and state governments, with a deadline of November 21. Additional Solicitor General A.R.L. Sundaresan, representing the central government, and J. Ravindran, representing the state government, assured the court they'd submit the list of officers in a sealed cover by November 21.

The court's decision comes in light of significant efforts by the Tamil Nadu police in addressing drug-related crimes. In 2023 alone, 1,727 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, resulting in 2,262 arrests and the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs. This includes 7,236 kg of ganja, 45 ml of ganja oil, 2 kg of hashish oil, 40,464 ganja chocolates, and 93.610 kg of other drugs.

Between January 2023 and September 2024, an additional 675 NDPS Act cases were filed, leading to 902 arrests and the seizure of 2,720 kg of ganja, 3,458 ganja chocolates, and 7.319 kg of other drugs. Authorities also confiscated 368 vehicles used for drug transportation during this period.

The court also directed the Directors of School Education and Collegiate Education to issue circulars to all schools and colleges mandating the display of notice boards highlighting the consequences of drug use and sale. These notices must include information on the punishments under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the state’s toll-free helpline number, 10581.

Furthermore, the court urged educational institutions to install complaint boxes for reporting drug-related issues and organize regular awareness programs in collaboration with legal aid services, Scouts, and the National Cadet Corps (NCC). The authorities have also been ordered to conduct periodic inspections around educational institutions and enforce a crackdown on the sale of prohibited substances within a 100-meter radius. The division bench stressed the need for strict, collaborative action to combat the growing drug menace and safeguard students across Tamil Nadu.

(Source- IANS)