SC Calls For Rehabilitation Over Stigma In Substance Abuse Amid Rising Drug Trade Concerns

൲ A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh focused attention on the importance of an open discussion to tackle the issue of substance abuse, stating that it should not be treated as a taboo.

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Updated on: 16 December 2024 2:34 pm

ওSC Calls for Rehabilitation Over Stigma in Substance Abuse Amid Rising Drug Trade Concerns | Photo: PTI

🧸SC Calls for Rehabilitation Over Stigma in Substance Abuse Amid Rising Drug Trade Concerns | Photo: PTI

🔜With the rise in drug consumption and abuse the Supreme Court highlighted the need for a rehabilitative approach. A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, in Ankush Vipan Kapoor v. National Investigation Agency, focused attention on the importance of an open discussion to tackle the issue of substance abuse, stating that it should not be treated as a taboo.

ꦏThe Court emphasised the need to rehabilitate affected youth rather than demonise them.

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☂"We note our disquiet regarding substance abuse in India. Profits are being used to support terrorism and leading to violence. Academic pressure and family disturbances are also leading to the same, which is leading to long-term social and economic instability. Peer pressure, stress from academics and easy availability of drugs is a trigger and adolescents are also using it as emotional escapism," the bench said.

💝"The youth must not follow those who resort to drug abuse and victims of substance abuse are not only limited to the downtrodden but cuts across economic barriers. We need not demonise the ones who have resorted to it but rehabilitate the individuals and make them constructive citizens," it added.

🌺The reflection came as a result of the accused’s bail plea “ involving 500 kilogrammes of heroin being smuggled from Pakistan to India” as reported by PTI. According to Bar and Bench, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation of the case, “considering the grave allegations of cross-border illicit drug operations involved.” The ruling came as a result of an overview of Section 8 of the NIA Act associated with the “investigating any Scheduled Offence, the Agency may also investigate any other offence which the accused is alleged to have committed if the offence is connected with the Scheduled Offence."

⭕In its concluding remarks, the SC declined to intervene in the NIA's decision to investigate individuals accused of non-scheduled offenses in the current heroin smuggling case.