HC asks govt to frame policies to check drug trafficking

NEW DELHI: To check use of terminally ill patients as carriers of narcotic drugs, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to the MHA and the MEA asking them to ensure that visa seekers carry a doctor's certificate before travelling.

A bench of Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Mool Chand Garg has directed the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home to chalk out guidelines within two weeks for regulating the procedure to be followed while issuing visas to foreign nationals.

The policy should emphasise on mandatory medical checks of citizens of certain countries involved in excessive drug trafficking to India, the bench said in its order on July 20, asking both the ministries to reply by August 17.

As per the order, the policy should highlight on the requirement of certification by a medical doctor pertaining to the health of the foreign national who intends to visit India other than for medical purpose.

The order followed concerns expressed by counsel for the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), Satish Aggarwala, while contesting a case in the court. Aggarwala had said that drug traffickers have started using terminally ill patients as transporters to smuggle narcotics.