SC to hear plea seeking time-bound NDPS probes, confiscation of traffickers' properties on Monday

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a petition seeking various measures to combat drug trafficking in India, such as time-bound investigations, confiscation of traffickers' assets, and establishment of standardized procedures. The petition, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, aims to compel the Centre and state governments to set deadlines for forensic report submissions in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act cases and to create uniform protocols for search and seizure operations.

The plea also calls for the formation of special courts for expedited NDPS trials and the implementation of mandatory digital recording and videography of search, seizure, and sampling proceedings. The petition highlights a 53% increase in drug cases in 2025 and the seizure of 1,240 tonnes of narcotics, underscoring the severity of the issue.

It criticizes the current framework for lacking standard investigation protocols, leading to delays in prosecutions and unjust acquittals. The petition urges the court to direct authorities to seize assets of traffickers, financiers, and their families under multiple acts, and to establish an expert committee to monitor new psychoactive substances, create rehabilitation centers, and implement a graduated sentencing system that distinguishes between traffickers and personal-use offenders.