Punjab's drug abuse crisis has reached alarming levels, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed serious concern over the rising drug crisis in Punjab and the alarming human toll of narcotics abuse.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi indicated that the situation may require both structural and policy-level intervention. The bench also said that the Centre's involvement might become necessary, while cautioning against viewing such intervention politically. Highlighting the scale of the drug crisis in the state, the bench referred to a news report and CJI orally remarked, "See what we read. A mother is crying. She lost her fifth son to drugs. She has lost all her children to drug addiction... Police need to be sensitised." The bench also said that the situation in Punjab, particularly in areas like Ludhiana, had reached alarming proportions. The bench lamented that while small-time offenders were being booked, major traffickers and influential people instrumental behind the drug racket escaped scrutiny.