Personal consumption of drugs to be decriminalised; Centre planning to amend law

NEW DELHI: The Centre is planning to amend the law in such a way that personal consumption of small quantities of drugs will be decriminalised. According to the Social Justice Ministry, people caught consuming drugs can be brought back to life by sending them to rehabilitation centres instead of jail. It also feels that those selling and trafficking drugs should be given severe punishment.

There are currently 240 intoxicants. The punishment is different for each. It is not clear whether this will be unified. The draft amendment is just getting ready.

The social justice ministry had suggested amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by treating drug addicts as victims rather than criminals. The ministry had suggested that the act should be amended in such a way that those caught using drugs for the first time should be given small fines. If the person is caught again, he will be made to do compulsory social service. The person will have to serve a jail term if he continues to consume drugs.

Changes were made in the earlier recommendations following a widespread debate over the decriminalisation of drug consumption in the wake of the arrest of Aryan Khan.

The proposal was approved at a high-level meeting of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Revenue and Health in Delhi yesterday. The bill is likely to be introduced in the parliament session starting this month.

NDPSA Section 27 will be amended. As per this section, drug use is punishable by a fine of Rs 10,000 and imprisonment for up to six months. There are strict conditions for bail.

New suggestions:

• Punishment only for those who do not give up drugs after treatment and counselling.
• Severe punishment for those who smuggle and sell drugs
• Strict punishment if innocent people are framed in the case
• Digital system to record the details of the seized drugs