Emphasizing that users and dependents were caught in small amounts drugs and their families to be treated as “victims” and not as perpetrators of substance abuse, ministry of social justice And the jurisdiction has suggested compulsory rehabilitation and treatment instead of jail and punishment.
Recommendations are in response to a request by Revenue Department For possible amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.
The ministry is absolutely right when it argues that users should not be seen as criminals but as victims. Criminalizing the use, especially of soft drugs, only helps to push the entire business into a vague, dark zone and creates a convergence of interests between users and drug peddlers, which is the last thing law enforcement needs to do. should target.
MSJ&E has suggested amendments that such users should be sent to a mandatory de-addiction and rehabilitation facility for a period of at least 30 days, after which they can also be made to provide compulsory community service for one year. can.
It has made these suggestions in a recent letter to the revenue department, which had sought views of various ministries, including home and health, on the provisions of the law and if they want to make any changes. It is also recommended that the reduction demand may be linked with special programs in schools and colleges in the section relating to the National Fund for the Control of Drug Abuse.
The ministry has proposed changes in the section on offenses and fines so as to differentiate between those caught in small quantities for personal consumption and those caught in large quantities for personal consumption, which will be defined at the time of sentencing. small quantities”.
In a section seeking immunity from prosecution to addicts voluntarily seeking treatment, the ministry has suggested that the voluntary component be removed as it recommends that treatment be extended to all such users after a minimum period of mandatory period. should be mandatory. community service.
Incidentally, these suggestions come at a time when the Mumbai cruise ship is involved in a drug case. Aryan Khan, son of bollywood star Shahrukh Khan is in the news. In the wake of Khan’s case, the issue of small quantities of drugs with individual consumers has come into the limelight.
The Ministry of Social Justice has said in its suggestions that drug addicts are victims and not criminals, outlining the motto of its work, that the law needs to differentiate between traffickers and persons who are drug addicts, Those found in possession of drugs in small quantities. personal use.
Revenue Department Finance Ministry It is examining amendments to the stringent law governing the illegal drugs trade and seizure, with provisions imposing non-negotiable prison sentences and heavy fines. As part of the exercise, the finance ministry, which regulates the NDPS Act, recently sought the views of different ministries that are stakeholders in the debate.
Runs Drug Division under MSJ&E social defense department and also has a national policy on drug demand reduction, running a network of de-addiction centers across the country.
.