By Raghav Ohri
Chandigarh, India
Chief secretaries told to send the order to all DCs and ensure immediate compliance
Expressing concern over the pitiable condition of drug addicts and their families, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the states of Punjab and Haryana to prepare a plan for allocation of funds and manpower for post–cure support to the addicts and their families.
Justice Rajive Bhalla passed the directions on a petition filed by a few rehabilitation centres who challenged the Punjab government’s orders to close down such centres.
The high court had earlier constituted a committee comprising two advocates to inspect the condition of drug de–addiction centres in Punjab and Haryana.
“The members of the committee have brought to the notice of this court that the governments of Punjab and Haryana are not extending cooperation, as directed. The states of Punjab and Haryana are directed to extend full co–operation to the members of the committee, who would be entitled to inspect any public or private hospital/drug de–addiction centre in the States of Punjab and Haryana. For this purpose, the concerned deputy commissioner shall provide all facilities that may be necessary to carry out the task,” the court has ruled.
An affidavit filed on October 1 by Neelam P Kasni, Director, Social Justice and Empowerment, Haryana, said the state proposed to set up drug rehabilitation centres, called “Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts”.
“The State of Haryana, apparently has not allocated any funds or placed on record any firm programme for setting the action plan into motion. The State of Haryana is directed to clarify its stand and apprise the court, as to the manner in which it proposes to implement the action taken plan...,”Justice Rajive Bhalla has ruled.
“It further appears that as of date, the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts is the sole responsibility of private NGOs, funded by the Central government,” the order reads.
On the other hand, the counsel for Punjab submitted that the government had prepared an action taken plan to combat drug addiction, but sought time to place on record a roadmap showing the process of implementation.
The chief secretaries of both states have been directed to circulate the order to the deputy commissioners and ensure immediate compliance.
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Source: Indian Express
