By Biswanath Dash
BHUBANESWAR: In the recent years during the massive campaign against the narcotics especially Ganja (alsoknown as Cannabis/ Marijuana/ weeds) and Brown sugar (also known as Heroin/ smack) by Odishapolice, there has been huge piling up of seized narcotic drugs. As the trial of narcotics cases takestime, these seized drugs remain stocked at police stations/ court Malkhanas exposed to all kind ofvulnerabilities.
The piling up of seized drugs has been a cause of concern and honorable Supreme Court in the case of Union of India Vrs. Mohanlal & others passed a detailed order on disposal/ destruction of seized drugs especially emphasizing on pre trial disposal of seized drugs. However because of some procedural and technical ambiguity/ issues, seized drugs could not be disposed of. In this backdrop, STF approached the Hon’ble High Court of Odisha with a prayer for certain direction/ order to resolve the issues/ hindrances involved in disposing of the seized drugs. Finally on 31.01.2022, Hon’ble HighCourt of Odisha pleased to pass a land mark judgment directing the Sub-ordinate courts to dispose the applications filed U/s. Sec.52A of NDPS Act, 1985 issuing a detailed SOP in this regard.
Yesterday (30.09.2022) Drug Disposal Committee of STF, Koraput and Ganjam disposed/destroyed seized Ganja/ Cannabis/ Marijuana after being authenticated/ certified by concerned courts. More than 30 quintals of ganja was destroyed. STF- more than 6 Quintals. Koraput- more than 11 Quintals. Ganjam- more than 13 Quintals
