Punjab still to dispose of over 2.32 lakh kg of poppy husk, other drugs despite orders from SC, Centre

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 6

More than 2.32 lakh kg of poppy husk and other drugs are still to be disposed of by the State of Punjab despite earlier directions issued by the Supreme Court and the Government of India on disposal of contraband seized by the police in various cases but no longer required as a case property in ongoing trials.

Information on the quantity of contraband as on July 31 was provided to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in response to a Court query to Punjab Additional Director-General of Police, STF, Harpreet Singh Sidhu. Taking a note of the response, Justice Amol Rattan Singh directed Punjab Additional Chief Secretary, Home, to file his own affidavit, stating why directions were not being complied with and as to why proceedings under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act be not initiated against the officers concerned, if the Bench found there was actually a violation of an undertaking before the Court.

The Bench was hearing a bunch of petitions filed against the State of Punjab by Prince and other petitioners through counsel Ishan Gupta. Justice Amol Rattan Singh asserted Additional Chief Secretary (Home)/ ADGP (STF), /IGP (STF) filed an affidavit in another petition that came up for hearing before the High Court two or three years ago. It was stated that contraband was being disposed of timely in terms of the directions of the Supreme Court/the Government of India. It was added that committees headed by the Commissioners of each revenue division, were constituted and entrusted with the responsibility of such disposal

Justice Amol Rattan Singh added the Additional Chief Secretary would also be required to obtain data regarding 2, 32,810.84 kg poppy husk. He would give drug-wise break-up of all other contraband still not disposed of.

It would also be stated when such drug/contraband was seized in different cases and when was the contraband last disposed of under the supervision of different committees. “If the affidavit, at least answering the first question as to why the contraband is not being disposed of in a timely manner as per the directions already issued by the Supreme Court/the Government of India and the undertaking given before this court in another such case is not filed, the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Government of Punjab, would be directed to be personally present in court’ the Bench concluded.