Supreme Court flags 'terrible' drug crisis in Punjab, slams police for shielding big traffickers
Synopsis
The Supreme Court didn't mince words — Punjab's drug crisis is 'terrible', and its police are more interested in newspaper photographs of poor villagers than arresting the 'bigger sharks' running narcotics syndicates. The bench's call for Central intervention and a pan-India coordination mechanism signals the judiciary's patience with state inaction has run out.
Key Takeaways
The Supreme Court on 8 May 2025 flagged the Punjab drug crisis as 'terrible' , citing a mother who lost all five sons to addiction.
CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi accused Punjab Police of arresting small-time peddlers for publicity while letting influential traffickers go free.
The court identified Ludhiana markets as an 'epicentre' of the drug trade and questioned why root causes remain unaddressed.
The bench directed the creation of special NDPS courts across states and UTs, promising High Courts assistance in setting them up.
The Supreme Court raised the possibility of Central government intervention while urging all parties not to politicise such involvement.
A statutory coordination mechanism for inter-agency information-sharing on pan-India narcotics networks was also proposed.
The Supreme Court on Friday, 8 May 2025, expressed grave concern over the escalating drug menace in Punjab, sharply criticising state authorities for allegedly shielding influential narcotics traffickers while arresting small-time peddlers for media visibility. The observations came during a suo motu hearing on the creation of exclusive courts for expeditious disposal of cases under special statutes, including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Bench's Alarming Observations
A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the remarks while reviewing recent reports on drug addiction's devastating impact across Punjab. The bench declared the situation in the state had become
Point of View
Yet enforcement has consistently targeted the visible and the powerless rather than the networked and the influential. The bench's reference to knowing 'who is being arrested and who is being let out' is an indictment not just of police priorities but of the political economy that shapes them. The push for special NDPS courts addresses the judicial backlog but not the enforcement gap; without accountability for senior officers who look the other way, faster courts will only process more small fish. The hint at Central intervention is the real signal — and the caution not to read it politically suggests the court is aware of how quickly that lever gets weaponised in Punjab's charged landscape.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Supreme Court say about Punjab's drug crisis?
The Supreme Court called the drug situation in Punjab 'terrible', citing a report of a mother who lost all five of her sons to drug addiction. The bench accused Punjab Police of prioritising arrests of small-time peddlers for media publicity while failing to act against influential persons running larger drug syndicates.
What are the special NDPS courts the Supreme Court mentioned?
The Supreme Court directed the creation of exclusive courts across states and Union Territories for the expeditious disposal of cases under special statutes, including the NDPS Act and the UAPA. The bench assured that all High Courts would be provided assistance to set up these dedicated NDPS courts to address the mounting caseload.
Why did the Supreme Court flag Ludhiana specifically?
The bench remarked that certain markets in Ludhiana had become an 'epicentre' of the drug trade and questioned why authorities were not addressing the root of the problem there, indicating the city represented a concentrated hub of narcotics activity that enforcement had failed to dismantle.
Did the Supreme Court call for Central government intervention in Punjab?
Yes, the bench indicated that Central government intervention may become necessary to curb Punjab's narcotics crisis. However, it cautioned against viewing such involvement through a political lens, stating the common goal should be to curb the drug menace rather than score political points.
What is the proposed inter-agency coordination mechanism?
The Supreme Court suggested the creation of a statutory coordination mechanism to enable information-sharing among law enforcement agencies across states in cases involving organised narcotics networks operating on a pan-India basis, recognising that drug syndicates frequently operate across state boundaries.
