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PIL in SC seeks comprehensive reforms to tackle growing drug menace

Rahul Kumar | July 29, 2026 2:21 PM CST

A PIL has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking comprehensive reforms to tackle India's drug menace. The plea urges strengthening the NDPS Act with stricter timelines for investigation, special courts, and enhanced rehabilitation measures.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved before the Supreme Court seeking comprehensive reforms to tackle the growing drug menace and dismantle organised drug trafficking networks across the country.

Key Reforms Demanded in PIL

The petition, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeks directions to the Centre, States and the Law Commission to strengthen investigation, prosecution and rehabilitation mechanisms under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The petition urges the Court to direct the Centre and State governments to prescribe mandatory timelines for submission of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports in all NDPS cases and frame Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for search, seizure and sampling.It also seeks constitution of Special Courts under Sections 36 and 36A of the NDPS Act to ensure time-bound investigation and speedy trial. Among its key prayers, the PIL seeks directions to establish an Expert Committee for identification and timely scheduling of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), implement mandatory digital recording and videography of search, seizure and sampling proceedings, and create rehabilitation and wellness centres under Sections 39 and 64A of the NDPS Act for treatment of addicts.

Plea for Stricter Sentencing and Asset Seizure

The petitioner has also sought a graded sentencing policy prescribing stricter punishment for traffickers, financiers and organised drug syndicates while treating addicts and personal-use offenders differently. It further seeks time-bound assessment and confiscation of properties of traffickers, financiers and their family members under the NDPS Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Benami Property Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Black Money Act.Additionally, the PIL requests the Court to direct the Law Commission to prepare a comprehensive report on the issue and declare that sentences in NDPS cases should run consecutively rather than concurrently.

Petition Highlights Nationwide Impact of Drug Menace

According to the petition, drug trafficking has nationwide consequences, affecting public health, destroying families, fuelling organised crime and terror financing, and leading to addiction-related deaths.

Arguments for Judicial Intervention

It claims there is no uniform investigation protocol, no statutory timeline for forensic examination, no effective mechanism for tracing and confiscating proceeds of drug trafficking, and inadequate implementation of rehabilitation measures despite provisions in the NDPS Act. The PIL cites instances including the death of five sons of a woman in Punjab due to drug addiction, alleged drug-related crimes in several States, and official data showing a sharp increase in drug cases and seizures in 2025.It contends that these developments demonstrate the need for stronger institutional mechanisms to effectively enforce the NDPS Act and fulfil the State's constitutional obligations under Articles 14, 21 and 47. The petitioner argues that the absence of uniform investigation standards, delays in forensic reports, lack of Special Courts and inadequate rehabilitation infrastructure have weakened enforcement of the NDPS Act and undermined the constitutional right to speedy investigation and trial.The plea seeks judicial intervention to introduce a coordinated national framework for investigation, prosecution, sentencing, rehabilitation and monitoring of narcotics offences.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)