The High Court has dismissed a plea seeking scraping of a detention order against a drug peddler who was arrested by Handwara police in September last year.
A bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar dismissed the petition challenging order of detention passed by divisional commissioner, Kashmir on 21 November 2017.
The detenu, a resident of Lachipora in Handwara Tehsil of Kupwara district was booked under the act after the police allegedly recovered charas from his possession.
“The detenu is a notorious drug peddler and habitual smoker. Besides, he peddles drugs particularly the charas and supplies the same among the youth and other persons of the locality especially college going youth,” the court said while dismissing his plea.
“He has spoiled the youth of his area by supplying them charas and has created a serious problem in the area”.
The court observed: “What was regarded not harmful fifty years ago has become the greatest evil of the day in view of changed circumstances, new researches, new thinking and modern way of life.”
“As long as human beings were God-fearing and had faith that their actions were being watched by the Almighty the need for the administration of criminal justice was not felt. However, with the passage of time and the people becoming more materialistic, a section of the society consisting of misguided and disgruntled human beings lost faith in the Almighty and started thinking that their actions could not be seen by anybody,” it said.
Observing that the drug problem is a serious threat to public health, safety and well-being of humanity, the court said: “Our global society is facing serious consequences of drug abuse and it undermines the socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development”. Besides, the court said, it also distorts the health and fabric of the society.
On 30 September 2017, during checking at Bakiakar crossing, in Handwara, Police had recovered from the possession of the detenu a polythene bag containing 830 grams charas like substance.
A case FIR 316/2017 under section 8/20 NDPS was registered against him at police station Handwara.
The detaining authority placed the detenu under preventive detention after noticing that he was posing a threat to health and welfare of the people of district Kupwara.