{
  "id": 2276493,
  "title": "Mumbai: 43 Lawyers Seek More NDPS Courts As 4,747 Cases Remain Pending",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mumbai-43-lawyers-seek-more-ndps-courts-as-4-747-cases-remain-pending",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T01:15:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-43-lawyers-seek-more-ndps-courts-as-4747-cases-remain-pending"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai, August 20, 2026 — Frustrated by a backlog of over 4,747 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including a case dating back to 1989, 43 lawyers have penned a letter to the Bombay High Court. The request is for the expansion of special courts to handle drug trafficking and consumption cases. The lawyers submitted the letter this month to Justices MS Karnik and Neela Gokhale, proposing an increase from the current four to eight special NDPS courts.\n\nCurrently, only four special NDPS courts exist, with one remaining vacant for the past two months. A staggering 4,747 cases are currently pending before these courts, while trials are ongoing in just 509 of them. The heavy case load severely slows down proceedings, with the courts able to handle no more than two cases per month. The legal proceedings are further complicated by the need to address custody matters, bail pleas, remand applications, and various other filings.\n\nEach court is inundated with around 60 cases per day, and 15 to 16 new cases are registered weekly by agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, customs, the Anti Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai Police, and local police stations. The lawyers argue that many accused individuals remain in custody for more than three years before their trials begin, disproportionately impacting women. Trials can also be lengthy due to extensive witness lists, ranging from 15 to 40, in some cases exceeding 100 witnesses.\n\nA senior public prosecutor, speaking anonymously, highlighted that cases involving accused individuals on bail are delayed due to the prioritization of those in custody. Additionally, accused persons often abscond before their cases reach the trial stage, causing further delays. The prosecutor emphasized the need for more courts and improved infrastructure, stressing that the delays are undermining the judiciary system. The loss of records and seized contraband over time also erodes the credibility of evidence, ultimately weakening the case for the prosecution.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, August 20, 2026: Concerned over a backlog of around 4,747 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, including one dating back to 1989, 43 lawyers have written to the Bombay High Court seeking an increase in the number of special courts hearing drug trafficking and consumption cases. Lawyers Seek More Special Courts Earlier this month, the lawyers…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}