Punjab & Haryana High Court Expresses Concern Over Growth Of Wild Cannabis, Flags State Inaction & Calls For Status Report

It is a matter of grave concern wherein narcotic drugs are "playing havoc" in the life of the young generation and needs to be addressed, observed the Punjab & Haryana High Court on the issue of wild cannabis growing in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.

Highlighting the State inaction the bench said, "the State machinery, who have an onerous duty but seems have to failed or is turning a blind eye is called upon to explain as to what action they have taken to burn and/or curb such growth of Cannabis plants and any action plan they have in place."

Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sandeep Moudgil observed, "It is a matter of grave concern wherein narcotic drugs are playing havoc in the life of not only the common man but in particular the young generation as a termite, who is the future of this country, therefore, the issue needs to be addressed."

These observations were made while hearing a plea for suspension of sentence in a drugs-related matter under the NDPS Act.

While hearing the case, the Court noted that "there is widespread and intermittent growth of wild cannabis plants in and around the surrounding area of Union Territory Chandigarh. A large number of cannabis plants can be seen growing even in the open areas near the Judges residential houses in Sectors 4, 7, 10, 11 and more particularly in Sector 24, Chandigarh including the Secretariat round-about and outskirts of High Court and in Rajendra Park etc, which is facilitating the miscreants indulging in to drug peddling."

Many visitors or maybe even the residents of the city, especially the youth and kids are misusing such wild growth to their illegal commercial use, the Court added.

Taking into consideration the gravity involved in the matter which concerns not only UT Chandigarh but Mohali and Panchkula also, the Court issued notice to Advocate Generals for the States of Punjab and Haryana and Senior Standing counsel for U.T., Chandigarh to apprise it with regard to the "steps being taken by the States/UT Chandigarh in matter of wild growth of Cannabis and file their respective status reports by the next date of hearing."

The matter is listed for May 20, for further consideration.

Ashok Giri, Advocate for the applicant/appellant Saurabh Kapoor, Addl. AG Punjab

Hitesh Pandit, Addl. AG Haryana

Sourabh Goel, Sr.Panel Counsel, UOI, NCB & UT Chd. 

Title: Balbir Singh @ Panju v. State of Punjab

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