“Drug abuse is a social evil. It destroys vitals not only of the society but also adversely affects the economic growth of the country…..” Y K Sabarwal, Former Chief Justice of India (2006)
It is no secret that despite being illegal, marijuana, also known as cannabis, can be availed very easily. As per the Indian law, the consumption or possession of marijuana is a criminal act and those found guilty can face a jail term up to 10 years or a fine of Rs. 1 lakh or both. When the Britishers arrived in India, they found the widespread trade of cannabis and its massive consumption as a source of revenue. Accordingly, they had levied a tax on it and were the first one to pass a law in connection with the usage of marijuana in 1838, 1871, and further in 1877.
The vogue of substance abuse in young generation has assumed alarming dimensions in India. Changing cultural values, increasing economic stress and dwindling supportive bonds are leading to initiation of substance abuse. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) substance abuse is persistent or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice. Drug addiction causes immense human distress and the illegal production and distribution of drugs have spawned crime and violence worldwide. Today, there is no part of the world that is untouched from the curse of drug trafficking and drug addiction. Millions of drug addicts, all over the world, are leading miserable lives, between life and death. India too is caught in this vicious cycle of drug abuse, and the number of drug addicts is gradually increasing. Cannabis, heroin, and Indian-produced pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in India. Cannabis products, often called charas, bhang, or ganja, are massively abused throughout the country
From traditional plant-based drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin to synthetic drugs such as tramadol, consumption of narcotic substances in India has increased manifold over years, pushed through a strong network of drug cartels. In terms of users, India’s illicit drug markets are mostly dominated by cannabis and opioids.
According to a 2019 study, National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Abuse in India, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are nearly three crore cannabis users in India.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL APPROACH AND DRUG POLICY
India’s approach towards Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is enshrined in Article 47 of the Constitution of India which mandates that the ‘State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health’. Article 47, which is based on Gandhian principle, provides social security and justice to the citizens by enumerating duties of the state which are important for achieving the goal of a better society, and it includes better conditions of living, access to healthy and nutritious food and public health and hygiene. As intoxicating drinks and drugs are injurious to health and therefore it has been expressly provided by article 47 that state should take steps to reduce or stop the consumption of such injurious drinks or drugs. The same principle of preventing use of drugs except for medicinal use was also adopted in the three international conventions on drug related matters, viz., Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. India has signed and ratified these three conventions. India’s commitment to prevention of drug abuse and trafficking predates the coming into force of the three conventions.
THE NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The NDPS Act prohibits cultivation, production, possession, sale, purchase, trade, import, export, use and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances except for medical and scientific purposes in accordance with the law. Preparation to commit certain offences is punishable as is attempt. Accessory crimes of aiding and abetting and criminal conspiracy attract the same punishment as the principal offence.
The NDPS Act lays down the procedure for search, seizure and arrest of persons in public and private places. Safeguards such as prior recording of information, notifying a superior, limiting powers of arrest to designated officers, informing the person being searched of her/his rights have been scrupulously enforced by the courts, in light of the stringent punishments prescribed under the Act. At the same time, norms for investigation and evidence are permissive and have been interpreted in a manner that prejudices the accused. In 1988, the NDPS Act was supplemented by the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to provide for preventive detention of people suspected or accused of involvement in drug trafficking
Adolescents are adventurous, self confident and often do new things to show that they can. By and large, this is the age at which most addicts get initiated into drugs. Section 32B of the NDPS Act lists ‘the fact that the offence is committed in an educational institution or social service facility or in the immediate vicinity of such institution or facility or in other place to which school children and students resort for educational, sports and social activities’ as one of the aggravating factors which may be considered by the Court for imposing higher than the minimum penalty prescribed for the offence.
THE JUDICIAL RESPONSE
The Indian judiciary is considered as one of the most proactive adjudicatory wings when it comes to judicial review of the Indian legislations and policies. In 2008, a division bench of the Supreme Court of India in the case of ‘E Michael Raj v Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau had ruled that punishment under the NDPS Act will depend on the quantity of offending drug present in a consignment seized by the police. Five grams of heroin would classify as a small quantity while 250 grams of the same contraband would be considered a commercial quantity attracting a punishment of up to 20 years of imprisonment. Drug peddlers would sell heroin mixed with caffeine, chalk powder, zinc oxide, to get around the law and escape with minor sentences. Reversing the 2008 decision of E Michael Raj, a three-judge bench of Justices Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee and MR Shah in the case of Hira Singh And Another v. Union Of India And Another held that, “The problem of drug addicts is international and the drug mafia are working throughout the world. It is a crime against society and it has to be dealt with an iron hand. The use of drugs by young people in India has increased. The drugs are being used for weakening the nation.” Therefore, if it is accepted that it is only the actual content by weight of offending drug which is relevant for the purpose of determining whether it is a small quantity or commercial quantity, in that case, the object and purpose of enactment of NDPS Act would be frustrated,” the court said.
The evil of drug abuse not only creates shackles on the very idea of a better life but it also acts as an impediment to the growth of the country. The legal framework which is present to counter the abuse of drugs is based on a solid foundation. As far as the drug law enforcement is concerned, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been compiling statistics on seizures, etc. from various State and Central law enforcement agencies and has been compiling the National Drug Enforcement Statistics (NDES) every month. These statistics represent the drug law enforcement as well as the comparative performance of various agencies and the compilation need to be done within the appropriate time so as to comply with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985.
THE AMELIORATIVE APPROACH FOR EFFICIENCY
In 1988, the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in NDPS (PITNDPS) Act was enacted to provide for detention in certain cases for the purpose of preventing illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and for matters connected therewith. The act may be used to secure preventive detention of the major drug traffickers. As the drug traffickers deal in large volumes, and earn substantially through trafficking, every effort should be made by the concerned organization to identify, seize and freeze their properties and follow up the case vigorously till the properties are forfeited. Moreover, the need of the hour is to improve the quality of estimates and statistical reports on narcotic drugs and ensure that these reports are submitted in a timely manner, including the reports on consumption of narcotic drugs, in conformity with the definition of “consumption” in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol.
Efforts have to be made to keep up and further strengthen the mechanism for collection of statistics on drug law enforcement by the NCB. The mechanism of collection of statistics on legitimate manufacture, trade, use, consumption and stocks of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors should be strengthened and streamlined so as to ensure strict compliance of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
Apart from this, the authorities must strive for the development of a mechanism to regularly collect statistics on drug and substance abuse in the country and to use such statistics as a yardstick to measure the effect of various interventions.
Efforts have to be made to keep up and further strengthen the mechanism for collection of statistics on drug law enforcement by the NCB. The mechanism of collection of statistics on legitimate manufacture, trade, use, consumption and stocks of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors should be strengthened and streamlined so as to ensure strict compliance of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.