PIL filed by Advocate H.C. Arora appears to have taken up Punjab Police from deep slumber. Petitioner, H.C. Arora, filed PIL on 03 October, inter-alia, seeking issuance of appropriate directions to State of Punjab to take steps for disposal/ destruction of narcotic drugs, like Opium, Smack, Charas, Bhukki, Dodas etc. lying in huge quantities in the Malkhanas of Police Stations since long. He had alleged that as per RTI information received by him, huge quantities of such drugs were lying in Malkhanas of Police Stations in Punjab, as the Committees constituted by Punjab Police for the purpose were not meeting regularly.
During resumed hearing of this PIL today, an affidavit of Sanjiv Gupta, ADGP, Punjab was filed. Sanjeev Gupta has referred to a Notification dated May 10th, 2007 issued by Union Home Ministry to the effect that “Destruction of narcotic drugs shall be by incineration in incinerators fitted with appropriate air pollution control devices, which comply with emission standards. Such incineration may only be done in places where adequate facilities and security arrangements exist. In order to ensure that such incineration may not be a health hazard or polluting, consent of the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee, as the case may be, should be obtained.”
Affidavit further discloses that process of purchasing 3 incinerators has been re-started, and notices inviting tenders were published in newspapers on 21 November 2011. According to the affidavit, the “contrabands recovered under NDPS Act remained undisposed in the malkhana of police stations.”
(Thus, while the Supreme Court had directed in its judgment in 2003 that narcotic drugs must not be kept in Police stations for more than 15 days, Punjab Police’s version reveals that such drugs are lying un-disposed since last so many years purportedly for want of incinerators).
Interestingly enough, Sanjeev Gupta has disclosed in his affidavit that Police Department had earlier on July 5th, 2010 given a supply order to a Chandigarh Company for purchasing 3 incinerators, and paid Rs.8.10 lacs by cheque, it being 50% of the total cost, but the company cheated the Department, it neither supplied incinerators, nor returned the amount. An FIR to the above effect had also been registered on May 12th, 2011 in Police Station, Sector-3, Chandigarh.
As regards non-destruction of RDX and explosive materials lying in Police Malkhanas, the Army authorities have sought adjournment for filing reply. The petitioner had alleged in the PIL that army authorities are not cooperating with Punjab Police for destroying RDX etc., whereas the Punjab Police does not possess the requisite equipment for doing so at its own level. The PIL now stands adjourned to 23 January 2012. – As reported by advocate H.C. ARORA, Petitioner in Person. Mr. Arora can be contacted at 9814013764
