Chief Justice of High Court of Tripura, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, expressed his seriousconcern regarding the increasing number of drug users and smuggling of narcotics from and through Tripura and bet on increasing the number of affordable, quality drug de-addiction centres in the state.
Justice Singh who is also the Patron-in-Chief of Tripura State Legal Services Authority, viewed this during the launching of the ‘Project Mukti’ for eradicating the menace of drug abuse as he virtually addressed various stakeholders who shall be associated with the project.
He said that after taking charge as Chief Justice of the High Court only one month two days he found that there are regular reports of seizure of huge quantity of drugs in Tripura and which is a matter concern and to counter it along with creating awareness against drug abuse especially among the youths, all stakeholders should also have to work collectively to stop it.
The Chief Justice said that awareness need to be created especially among children, young students, women, elders who either are victims of the drug menace or are getting affected as some members of the family are suffering from the drug abuse.
However, he felt that the number of drug de-addiction centres in the state of Tripura is inadequate and which should be not only be increased but also have qualified and experienced health staff and the facilities should be easily provided at affordable price for the public.
“There are only few de-addiction centres in Tripura but that challenge is manifold that more and more de-addiction centres with experienced and qualified professionals from the psychiatric department, doctors and life coaches be associated with them and are easily accessible to the general public and at reasonable cost the addicted can go for treatment,” he said adding : “Para-legal volunteers are to play a very crucial role as foot soldiers in making the state drugs free.”
The Chief Justice added, “This challenge is just not limited to the legal services institutions and it need the involvement and active cooperation of the members from all walks of the society and the different departments of the state government including the home, health, women and child development, and education department beside the district administration in creating awareness against drug menace especially targeting the youths who are considered the most vulnerable section and chances of falling victim to drugs.”
He said that the drug menace is not limited to Tripura rather it transcends both state and national borders.
Justice Singh appealed to the police and the narcotics control bureau have important roles to ensure that those indulge in drugs padding are promptly booked and investigations under NDPS Act will all safeguards with evidences that the prosecution does not fail in trial and here the role of the district judiciary is of similar importance in providing prompt justice into booking those indulged in such crimes.
On the day other Justices of the High Court, various other courts, senior police officials were also present in the launching program.
