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New Delhi: The proposed amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 are not likely to make personal consumption of drugs completely free from crime, ThePrint has learned.
However, senior officials told ThePrint that if the offenders voluntarily opted for de-addiction, there would be no criminal case against them.
The amendment bill is likely to come up in the winter session of Parliament.
The government is debating and working on several proposals to bring about sweeping changes to the NDPS Act, including possible decriminalization of personal consumption of drugs.
According to sources, there is an ongoing debate whether such de-criminalization will have a negative impact on the fight to discourage people from drug abuse. Therefore, the draft is likely to include a much watered-down provision to make personal consumption of drugs a crime.
A senior government official said that a meeting of all concerned ministries this week discussed the provision of allowing drug addicts to de-addiction voluntarily and not to file criminal cases against them.
“Either government or government-aided institutions will provide free treatment for 30 days to drug addicts so that they can go back to their normal lives,” the official said. “Their identity will also be protected and they will also be protected from prosecution if they voluntarily come forward and opt for rehabilitation. The government wants to encourage voluntary reform.”
According to sources, in the same meeting, there was a lengthy debate on the issue of de-criminalisation and it was felt that the issue is very complex and should be dealt with carefully.
“Earlier it was proposed and argued that if someone is caught with a small amount for personal consumption he should not be prosecuted but sent for rehabilitation. However, this is likely to be approved. No. In the recent meeting, most told that it should not be approved,” said the senior official.
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Earlier, in an effort to help victims of drug abuse, the government I was looking Possibility of decriminalizing personal consumption of small quantities of drugs, including cannabis, narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The recommendations in this regard came at a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on November 10, attended by top officials of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Social Justice and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The matter was raised in the wake of recent cases involving actors Rhea Chakraborty and Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan – both of whom were accused of drug abuse.
it was being proposed With respect to poppy, opium, cannabis, psychotropic substances and other drugs and narcotics, where the violation involves small amounts and the possession is for personal consumption only, compulsory admission to a rehabilitation or de-addiction center operated or supported by a government should be encouraged.
The government is also set to introduce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotic Substances (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (NDPS Amendment Ordinance) – with the aim of improving A draft error – even in the ongoing Parliament session.
(Edited by Arun Prashant)
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