Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the formation of a Screening Committee under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988, in Ladakh. The move aims to bolster the Union Territory's response to drug trafficking by introducing a structured scrutiny mechanism for detention proposals.
Committee Composition and Role
According to an official statement, the committee will conduct prior scrutiny of detention proposals submitted by sponsoring agencies, including the police, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), customs, and other enforcement bodies. Its duties include examining evidence, assessing the gravity of offences, evaluating the adequacy of material, and recommending whether an accused poses a genuine threat to public order warranting preventive detention. The committee will also facilitate inter-agency coordination and strengthen the overall enforcement framework against organised drug trafficking.
Addressing a Procedural Gap
The PITNDPS Act, 1988, allows for preventive detention of individuals involved in illicit drug trafficking. However, Ladakh lacked a formally constituted Screening Committee, leading to potential procedural inconsistencies and increased risk of detention orders being challenged on legal grounds. Recognising this gap and drawing on best practices from other states and Union Territories, Saxena approved the committee to ensure due diligence, procedural uniformity, and legal sustainability of preventive detention orders.
Official Statement on Drug Abuse Threat
“Drug abuse poses a serious threat to our youth and the social fabric of Ladakh. While rehabilitation and awareness remain equally important, there can be no compromise in our resolve to act firmly against those involved in illicit trafficking of narcotic substances. Preventive detention under the PITNDPS Act is an extraordinary legal measure and every proposal must undergo rigorous scrutiny and legal examination before such powers are invoked,” Saxena said. He added that the committee would ensure procedural consistency, objective assessment, and legal robustness in detention proposals, ensuring every preventive action stands on the strongest legal footing.
Rising Drug Abuse and Multi-Pronged Strategy
Over the past few months, Ladakh has witnessed an alarming rise in drug abuse and narcotic cases. In response, the Administration has adopted a multi-pronged strategy encompassing prevention, awareness, rehabilitation, and stringent enforcement. Officials noted that the committee aligns with practices in several states and Union Territories that have set up similar bodies comprising senior police officers, legal experts, and enforcement agency representatives.
“Such mechanisms have emerged as important procedural safeguards to ensure that preventive detention powers, which are exceptional in nature, are exercised only after careful and objective examination of all relevant material,” the statement added.
