Punjab to forfeit drug offenders’ assets

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

The Punjab Cabinet today approved enactment of the "Punjab Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Property Act, 2017" to enable attachment, seizure and forfeiture of properties of drug offenders.

  Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said the proposed law was part of the government’s war against drugs and that “every effort has been made to ensure there is no conflict with Central laws”. 

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Under the draft legislation, which has been prepared in consultation with the Punjab Director General of Police, those booked under the NDPS Act will not be able to alienate their property. Confiscation of property will take place only after final conviction. 

Property older than six years at the time of registration of a case will not be attached/confiscated under the provisions of the new Act.

The proposed law will apply to a person convicted under the NDPS Act,1985, entailing a 10-year or more prison term, and in respect of those against whom an order of detention has been passed under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988, provided such an order has not been revoked on the report of the advisory board constituted under the Act, or has not been set aside by a competent court.

Other key cabinet decisions

• Special Operations Group (SoG) to counter militant threat; police ranges to be restructured
• Sub-committee headed by Capt Amarinder Singh to review fiscal situation, curtail expenditure and mobilise resources
• Civic body polls before December 18 when results of HP, Gujarat Assembly elections will be declared
• Three-day winter session from November 27, ahead of elections to 3 Municipal Corporations and 36 councils
• Smart cards for Atta-Dal Scheme; PoS machines for Aadhaar-based identification of beneficiaries
• Better monitoring of foodgrain movement from mandis to godowns and thereafter, the distribution centres