CHANDIGARH, May 20 — Within hours of a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the state police informed the court that oversight committees have been formed at both the range and commissionerate levels to review all NDPS Act cases involving alleged drug smuggling from within jails.
A directive issued by the Director General of Police on May 16 — submitted before the Bench of Justice NS Shekhawat — outlined that range-level scrutiny panels will be led by ADGPs, IGPs, or DIGs, while commissionerate-level committees will be chaired by respective commissioners of police.
Additional Director-General of Police (ANTF), IPS officer Nilabh Kishore, has been assigned to supervise the review of files across all such cases.
The disclosure came during a resumed hearing in a matter involving three connected petitions. The accused in these cases were allegedly operating drug smuggling networks from within Amritsar Central Jail.
Earlier, Justice Shekhawat had sharply criticized the Amritsar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) for what the court described as a “very casual approach” in the interrogation of jail officials suspected of enabling narcotic smuggling.
“The SSP was directed to personally examine the investigation file,” Justice Shekhawat stated. “Once there was a specific direction to the SSP to read the file and act accordingly, he could not have delegated the matter to a DSP.” The judge added that such delegation verged on contempt.
The Bench had observed that drug operations from inside prison walls could not take place without the “active collusion” of senior jail officials and local law enforcement. In light of that, clear instructions had been issued to the SSP to determine why prison officials had not been named as accused, and to submit an affidavit detailing the same.
At the resumed hearing, the court was informed that SSP Maninder Singh had appeared in compliance with its May 14 order and filed an affidavit. He also offered an unconditional apology for failing to act on an earlier interim order dated March 3. The court accepted the apology.
The State counsel told the court that the SSP is now personally reviewing the role of jail staff in the alleged smuggling operation. Authorities will seek permission from the trial court to pursue further investigation. “Any jail official found involved will face legal action without exception,” the State submitted.
Justice Shekhawat adjourned the matter to July 28, instructing the Amritsar (Rural) SSP to continue personally monitoring the investigation. A fresh status report is to be submitted in the form of an affidavit. His personal appearance has been excused until further notice.
