SC: Need national action plan to combat drug abuse

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to formulate a national action plan to combat drug abuse among children in the coming six months. The judgement was made by a two-member bench of a bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and DY Chandrachud, while hearing a case filed by the Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA). The apex court observed that drug abuse among children “is a serious issue and cannot be swept under the carpet”.

BBA had petitioned that due to the inaction and non-compliance of the government’s action plan for reduction in drug demand and supply, the fundamental rights of children across the county are being violated. The court ruled that the action plan must include identification, investigation, recovery, counselling and rehabilitation of children that are affected by the menace. It also held that deaddiction centres must be formed in every district, with a special wing for children, including special care homes under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The apex court also ruled that a standard operating procedure be formulated to ensure that any form of criminal activity that takes places in schools, or child care institutions pertaining to either the use of children for drug trafficking, or the using of  children to consume drugs and substance abuse be punishable under provisions 77 and 78 of the JJ Act. The SC further held that an educational module be created so that the ill effects of drug and substance abuse be taught compulsorily in schools across the country.

Speaking to dna over the phone, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, who heads BBA lauded the “landmark judgement”. “The judgement has come at the and of a long struggle to combat alcohol and substance abuse, were we went to several local authorities without any help. We finally went to the Supreme Court, and after a year-and-a-half, today’s judgment has bolstered our struggle. It is now the government’s responsibility to form a robust policy. It is not possible that such a widespread menace had gone on unabated without the patronage of the police, local authorities and politicians. A strong provision for punishment must be included, and also a strong reporting and monitoring mechanism,” he said.

Satyarthi also stressed on better budgetary allocations for the implementation of rehabilitation, including the psychological and medical rehabilitation of children who come under substance abuse.

Senior advocate HS Phoolka, who was BBA’s counsel in the case said that the judgement was necessary to ensure that the government takes proactive action to curb drug abuse among children, most of whom are vulnerable to such abuse.