Says drug menace has reached a point where the Centre’s intervention may be necessary
09 May, 2026 – New Delhi : Pulling up the Punjab Police for their failure to deal with alarming drug menace in the state, the Supreme Court on Friday said they arrested only small-level peddlers for publicity and let off “bigger sharks”.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi referred to a recent incident (in Kapurthala) involving a mother who lost all her five sons to drug addiction. “See what we read. A mother is crying. She lost her fifth son to drugs. She lost all her children to drug addiction… The police need to be sensitised,” the CJI said.
The Bench said the drug menace had reached a point where the Centre’s intervention may be necessary. “Perhaps the Centre’s intervention may be needed. But when they do intervene, do not think as if the Centre is interfering,” the CJI said, asking both state and central agencies to work toward the singular goal of eradicating the drug menace. “The common goal should be to curb the drug menace,” he said.
The CJI said the Bench didn’t want to comment on the Punjab Police’s functioning. “They need to be sensitised. Whom they are picking up and whom they are letting off–it’s known to everyone. So please do something… the rise in cases is so alarming that it’s a situation which requires it to be revisited by all stakeholders. From the judicial side, I will ensure that all High Courts provide full support… we need to catch hold of bigger sharks, particularly influential people, instead of small peddlers. Otherwise the situation is going out of hand,” the Bench said.
As the state counsel said the government would take steps to ensure no accused was spared, the CJI underlined that the state must catch hold of “bigger sharks”.
CJI Kant recalled how as a judge he received “threats” from certain “nasty persons”. “Don’t go by faces who are operating. There are cases operating by different [powers]. I have seen it. I have suffered also. Lots of threats and all these things were given by some nasty people…but of course, I did not fear and you know my orders there,” he said.
The Bench said the police were after publicity. “The problem is your police personnel are more keen on getting publicity. They catch hold of a small villager, a poor boy, get them photographed and it comes in newspapers… as if you have done a very commendable job,” it said.
“Why don’t you go to the root of the matter? You are picking up people when something comes on the market. How is it reaching there? Ask your people, they will tell you which market in Ludhiana… had become the epicentre. These things are known to your agency,” said the Bench.
While dealing with a suo motu case relating to creation of exclusive courts for expeditious disposal of trials under special laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the top court called for a paradigm shift in the manner the state dealt with the drug menace.
Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay said there can be a central agency to coordinate and monitor NDPS cases on a pan-India level.
The Tribune