The Jharkhand High Court has issued a directive to DGP Anurag Gupta to collaborate with the Narcotics Control Bureau and the state government to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the sampling of drugs seized by police. This decision was prompted by concerns raised during a court hearing about the current inadequacies in handling drug-related evidence.
During a session on December 18, presided over by Chief Justice MS Ramchandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan, the court addressed issues related to the rampant sale of narcotics in the state. The judges highlighted significant procedural failures in how drugs seized during police operations are sampled and documented. These lapses, they noted, have frequently resulted in weakening the prosecution’s cases, consequently leading to the acquittal or bail of accused individuals.
The court’s concerns were illustrated by a specific incident in Baharagora, East Singhbhum, where approximately 80 to 90 kilograms of marijuana were discovered in a vehicle. The mishandling of the drug sampling in this case led to the eventual bail of the accused persons involved, underlining the need for stringent and uniform procedures.
In response, the High Court has ordered the DGP to formulate an SOP that would ensure meticulous and standardized practices for the collection, handling, and testing of narcotics. This SOP is intended to bolster the integrity of drug seizure operations and enhance the efficacy of subsequent legal proceedings.
