NDPS Trials Affected Due To Delay In Filling Vacancies In Forensic Labs: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (July 3) raised concern over pending vacancies in Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL), contributing to delays in concluding criminal trials under the NDPS Act.The Court passed an interim order requesting the Commissioner of Police, Ernakulam to appear before it and assist in curbing the menace of substance abuse among students of schools and colleges in the city.The Special Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran was dealing with a petition filed by Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) in this regard.The Court also dealt with a mother's plea raising the issue of increasing drug abuse among school and college students. It has requested the Commissioner to appear either virtually or physically to share the plan of action to curb drug abuse in Ernakulam, and inform whether any detailed study has been carried out.The Court had earlier directed the Chief Secretary to produce statistical data covering at least the last five to ten years regarding the number of cases reported, trends shown by the data, the regions where cases are on the rise, the age groups affected, and other relevant factors, is available with the State. This, the Court felt, was necessary to enable the State to take necessary action.Finding that the affidavit filed by the Deputy Secretary, Home Department contained only the number of cases registered and no trends, the Court sought the assistance of the Police Commissioner. It was also noted by the Court that the statistics show that the highest number of cases in the State were registered in Ernakulam.So far as FSLs are concerned, the Court observed that the Government and the Public Service Commission must work hand-in-hand to ensure that these posts do not remain vacant for an unduly long period of time."If the menace of rising drug abuse is to be curbed, the penal side of the solution also needs to be strengthened," the Court observed.The case is next posted on 23rd July.Case Title: Sumi Joseph v. The Chief Secretary and Connected caseCase No: W.P.(C) No. 23505 of 2023 and Connected caseClick to Read/Download Order

NDPS Trials Affected Due To Delay In Filling Vacancies In Forensic Labs: Kerala High Court

K. Salma Jennath

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