CM Sukhu approves two new NDPS courts for Kangra, Mandi
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that his cabinet has approved two new NDPS Act courts in Kangra and Mandi districts, framing the move as a key step in tackling the state's drug menace that threatens youth and families.
Key Takeaways
Two new NDPS courts approved for Kangra and Mandi districts at the cabinet meeting of 10 October 2026 .
Dedicated NDPS benches are intended to fast-track narcotic drug cases that clog general district courts.
CM Sukhu holds a law degree from Himachal Pradesh University and spent eight years on campus as a student politician.
Sukhu framed the drug problem as a generational challenge requiring legal action, awareness, prevention, and public cooperation together.
Former university peers of the CM are now serving as judges, reflecting the overlap of legal and political networks in the state.
A law degree from Himachal Pradesh University and eight years on campus — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu drew on that personal history on Sunday, 11 October 2026, to anchor a concrete policy announcement: his cabinet has approved two new dedicated courts to try cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Kangra and Mandi districts.
What the cabinet cleared — and why these two districts
At a cabinet meeting held on Saturday, 10 October 2026, the Sukhu government approved the creation of two new NDPS-specific courts — one each in Kangra and Mandi, two of Himachal Pradesh's most populous and geographically significant hill districts. Dedicated NDPS benches are designed to fast-track drug-related prosecutions that would otherwise languish in overloaded district courts, bringing both speedier justice and a stronger deterrent signal.
The personal thread: law school, student politics, and judicial peers
CM Sukhu used the occasion to speak candidly about his own formation. He noted that he earned his kanoon ki degree (law degree) from Himachal Pradesh University, spending eight years on campus while remaining deeply embedded in student politics — organising events in the university auditorium and building the networks that would shape his political career. In a pointed aside, he noted that some of his old university companions are now sitting as judges, 'well-acquainted with my way of working', a detail that underlined how tightly law and politics have been intertwined in his own life.
Drug menace framed as a generational challenge
Sukhu was direct about the stakes: the drug problem, he said, is a 'serious challenge tied to the future of youth, families, and society.' Effective laws are necessary, he argued, but not sufficient — awareness, prevention, and public cooperation must run alongside legal machinery. That framing positions the new courts not as a standalone fix but as one pillar of a wider anti-narcotics effort the state is assembling.
With NDPS case backlogs a documented pressure point in hill-state judiciaries, two new specialist benches in Kangra and Mandi represent a meaningful institutional addition. The real test will be how quickly they are staffed, resourced, and heard.
Point of View
CM Sukhu is moving to address a well-known bottleneck: drug cases in hill states routinely stall in overburdened district courts, diluting deterrence. Framing the move through his own legal education is a calculated signal — it positions the CM as someone who understands the system from the inside, not just as a political executive issuing orders. Longer term, the credibility of this initiative will depend on judicial appointments and operational budgets, not just the cabinet resolution.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Himachal Pradesh cabinet approve on 10 October 2026?
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet approved the creation of two new dedicated courts to hear cases under the NDPS Act, one each in Kangra and Mandi districts.
Why are separate NDPS courts needed in Himachal Pradesh?
Dedicated NDPS courts are designed to fast-track narcotic drug cases that would otherwise be delayed in general district courts, strengthening the legal deterrent against drug offences.
Where did CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu study law?
CM Sukhu obtained his law degree from Himachal Pradesh University, where he spent eight years as a student also actively involved in student politics.
What is CM Sukhu's approach to tackling the drug menace in Himachal Pradesh?
Sukhu has stated that combating the drug problem requires effective laws alongside public awareness, prevention programmes, and community cooperation — with the new NDPS courts forming the legal pillar of that strategy.
Which districts in Himachal Pradesh will get new NDPS courts?
The two new NDPS courts will be set up in Kangra and Mandi, two of Himachal Pradesh's most populous districts.
