The Chhattisgarh High Court has officially closed a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning drug abuse in Bilaspur after reviewing comprehensive reports from law enforcement agencies detailing significant action against narcotics trafficking in the region.
Court Takes Note of Drug Menace
The bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru had initiated the suo motu PIL after acknowledging a disturbing news report that described Juni Line locality as functioning like a "dispensary for drug addicts". The report highlighted alarming conditions where addicts were openly injecting drugs and the illegal supply of narcotic injections had become a major concern for local residents.
Massive Enforcement Action Revealed
In response to the court's directions, the Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police submitted a detailed personal affidavit outlining the scale of anti-narcotics operations conducted between September 1, 2024, and August 15, 2025. The enforcement efforts yielded substantial results with 67 cases registered under the NDPS Act across various parts of the city.
Police conducted extensive financial investigations against identified drug peddlers, resulting in the freezing of properties worth Rs 6 crore belonging to 15 accused individuals across five different cases. This aggressive approach targeted the financial infrastructure supporting the drug trade.
Large-Scale Drug Destruction
On July 23, 2025, the district administration conducted a massive destruction of seized narcotic substances, eliminating huge quantities of illegal drugs from circulation. The destroyed contraband included:
- 697.692 kg of cannabis
- 42,592 ampoules
- 73,822 tablets and capsules
- 7,678 syringes
- 11,510 bottles of syrups
The seized substances represented a wide spectrum of narcotics including sedatives, tablets, capsules, injections, ampoules, cough syrups, and cannabis that had been recovered from various locations throughout Bilaspur city.
Court Satisfied with Action Taken
In its order dated November 26, 2025, the High Court noted that based on the material presented by authorities, no such drug-related incidents were currently being reported in the area. The bench observed that the concerned authorities had taken "adequate steps" to address the problem, making it appropriate to close the proceedings.
The court's disposal of the PIL marks a significant milestone in Bilaspur's fight against drug abuse, demonstrating how judicial intervention combined with determined law enforcement action can effectively address serious social issues affecting local communities.
