- By Aditya Jha
- Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the illicit drugs trade substance across the nation and suggested that the authorities should rehabilitate the youngsters involved in drug abuse instead of demonising them.
A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh mentioned that drug consumption is a serious concern for the country. The bench emphasised that drug abuse should not be considered a taboo but an open discussion was required to tackle the issue.
The court pointed out that the reasons behind the drug addiction among the youths. The court stated that the profits from the drug business are being used to support terrorism and violence. The court also emphasised that the academic pressure is one of the reasons behind the increasing cases of drug abuses.
"We note our disquiet regarding substance abuse in India. Profits are being used to support terrorism and leading to violence. Academic pressure and family disturbances are also leading to the same, which is leading to long-term social and economic instability. Peer pressure, stress from academics and easy availability of drugs is a trigger and adolescents are also using it as emotional escapism," the bench said.
The court emphasised that it was necessary to find a way to make the individuals constructive citizens. The court also suggested the youths to not follow those who are involved in the drug business. "The youth must not follow those who resort to drug abuse and victims of substance abuse are not only limited to the downtrodden but cuts across economic barriers. We need not demonise the ones who have resorted to it but rehabilitate the individuals and make them constructive citizens," it added.
The observation came while the bench was pronouncing a judgment on a bail plea filed by a man accused in a case involving 500 kilogrammes of heroin being smuggled from Pakistan to India.
