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SC directs Punjab to target big drug traffickers, orders exclusive NDPS courts
The Supreme Court criticized the Punjab government for not catching major drug traffickers as NDPS cases rise, urging a revised strategy. It directed the establishment of exclusive NDPS courts, with Centre funding and High Court collaboration to handle cases efficiently.
Why It Matters
This marks a judicial push to fast-track narcotics trials and dismantle organized crime networks that span states, potentially reshaping Punjab's approach to drug enforcement.
Timeline
1 Event
SC directs Punjab to target major drug traffickers and set up exclusive NDPS courts
May 8, 2026
During a suo motu petition hearing on exclusive courts for NDPS and related acts, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi pulled up the Punjab government for not catching the 'big sharks' in drug trafficking and noted the alarming rise in NDPS cases. The court urged Punjab to revise its strategy to target major drug traffickers rather than small peddlers, highlighting the need for inter-state coordination given the alleged mafia-like networks. Advocate General Maninderjeet Singh Bedi stated that intensive measures were being taken, but the bench remained unconvinced. The court directed that the Centre would provide ₹2 crore for infrastructure and recurring expenses, with high courts coordinating to supply buildings and logistics. It specified that states with 10-15 pending trials should have one special court, 15-25 should have two, and more than 25 should have three, with the presiding officer hearing NIA cases daily and ensuring at least one trial is completed per month. Chief Justices of High Courts were asked to consult with state governments to provide the necessary space within one month.