1 2025:CGHC:57437-DB NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPPIL No. 72 of 2025 In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation, Regarding New Item Publised In Dainik Bhaskar Bilaspur Dated 17th August, 2025 Namely , Sahar Ke Bich Nashediyo Ka Dawakhana, Shiriz Se Le Rahe Nashili Dawaye ... Petitioner versus 1 - The State Of Chhattisgarh Through Chief Secretary, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar Nawa Raipur, (C.G.) 2 - Secretary Health And Family Welfaire, Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar, Raipur (C.G.) 3 - Director General Of Police, Police Head Quarter, Sector 19, Atal Nagar, Nawa Raipur (C.G.) 4 - The Collector Bilaspur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 5 - The Superintendent Of Police Bilaspur, District Bilaspur (C.G.) 6 - Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur (C.G.) 7 - Drugs And Food Inspector, Bilaspur (C.G.) ... Respondents This is an office reference For State : Mr. Shashank Thakur, Dy. Advocate General. Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice Hon'ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru , Judge Order on Board Per Ramesh Sinha , Chief Justice 26 .11 .2025 AMARDEEP CHOUBEY Digitally signed by AMARDEEP CHOUBEY Date: 2025.11.27 10:52:40 +0530 2 1. This suo moto public interest litigation petition has been registered on the basis of a news report published on 17.08.2025 in Hindi Daily newspaper, namely Bilaspur Bhaskar with a heading " शहर च नश दन, रज रह नश द". 2. The aforesaid news-report relates to the situation of Juni Line located in the middle of the city which was once a 'drug market' has now become a 'dispensary for drug addicts'. The drug addicts are taking drugs through syringes on the sides of the bushes and there is no one to stop them due to which there is fear among the local people. It further states that in violation of government rules the supply of drug injections are continuing. 3. After taking note of the issue, this Court vide order dated 18/08/2025 directed the District Magistrate, Bilaspur and the Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur to file their personal affidavit with respect to the news item. Thereafter, affidavits have been filed by them and relevant portion of the said affidavits reads as under :- Affidavit of Senior Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur ““4. That, the deponent most respectfully submits that the police administration has been regularly taking action against the drug peddlers as well as the persons who are involved in the business of sale and purchase of illegal Drugs. It is most respectfully submitted that for the period between 01.09.2024 to 15.08.2025 the Police of Bilaspur city has registered total 67 cases under the provisions of 3 the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and seized huge amount of scheduled drugs and other items including sedative tablets, Injections, Ampoules, Cough syrups, Cannabis etc. from the accused persons. A copy of the details of the 67 cases registered during the period from 01.09.2024 to 15.08.2025 in chart form is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/1. 5. That, it is most respectfully submitted that in its endeavor to tackle the problem of drug trafficking the police in each case related to the subject matter is carrying out End to End investigation and in this course every attempt is made to identify the source and the destination so that the accused working in the syndicate may be nabbed and to to demonstrate the above mentioned facts the details of End to End investigation carried out by the Police in the last 3 months that is from June to July in a form of chart is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/2. 6. That, It is further submitted that the police is also carrying out Financial Investigation against the drug peddlers and in this process in five cases, properties worth Rs. 6 Cr. with respect to 15 accused persons have been freezed and the matter was submitted before the competent authority under all SAFEMA/ NDPS, Mumbai and the said authority has declared the action of freezing all the property of the concerned persons as valid action. A copy of the details of the 5 cases in which the property has been freezed in a chart form is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/3. 7. That,the deponent most respectfully submits that the police is making all efforts to curb the menace of drugs 4 and other objectionable substances and is regularly conducting search and seizure at the various entries and exists of the city and further whenever any information is received and in the year 2023 total 175 cases were registered, similarly in the year 2024 total 11 cases were registered against the arraying persons and in the year 2025 till date total 41 cases have been registered, wherein huge quantity of Cannabis, Injections, Tablet, Capsules, MMDA, Opium, Ampoules, Cough syrups have been seized from the persons arrested to demonstrate the number of cases registered in the year 2023, 2024 and 2025 a chart with all the details are annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/4. 8. 8. That, it is further most respectfully submitted that in compliance of the directions issued by the Department of Finance, Government of India and on the basis of the recommendation of the committee, the police on 23.07.2025 has destroyed total 697.692 KG of Cannabis, total 42592 Ampoules, 73822 Tablets/ Capsules, 7678 syringes, and total 11510 bottles of syrups. That, the Bilaspur Police under the "Chetna" Drive has conducted 756 programs with respect to the Nasha Mukti and total 76976 persons have been benefited from the same and further continues efforts are being taken to spread awareness amongst the people against the use of Narcotics and other harmful substances.” Affidavit of District Magistrate, Bilaspur “ 4. That, the deponent most respectfully submits that the 5 deponent directed the responsible officers of the Food and Drug Administration and the Police Administration to conduct inspection in the various medical stores in the city and on the basis of the direction a joint inspection of the chemist shops were carried out by the Joint team of the Food and Drug Administration Police Department on 21.08.2025 and 22.08.2025 and during the inspection it was noted that some of the pharmacist had not maintained the schedule H1 register and in some cases it was observed that sales record were not properly maintained. It is submitted that proper action would be taken against the arraying persons as per the terms of the licenses and as per the Drugs and Chemist Act. A copy of the report details of the joint inspection is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/1. 5. That, it is further submitted that the Assistant Food Controller, Food and Drug Administration, District Bilaspur vide his letter dated 20.08.2025 has directed all the retail pharmacist of District Bilaspur, Gurela-Pendra- Marwahi, Mungeli and Korba not to sale needles, syringes, separately as per the rules of 1945 of the Drugs and Chemist Substance Act 1940. Needles, Syringes and Injections is to be sold only on the basis of the valid medical precautions and further all the shopkeepers were directed to pastel affix a notice to this effect in their 6 respective shops. A copy of the letter dated 20.08.2025 alongwith all the notice is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/2. 6. That, it is further most respectfully submitted that apart from the regular action taken by the police, the Department of Food and Drug Administration continue sly carries out inspection in the medical shops. It is submitted that in the year 2025 total 13 licenses were suspended for was breach of the conditions of license and violation of provisions, in the year 2024 total 24 licenses were suspended and 4 licenses were cancelled and in that year 2025 till today total 19 licenses have been suspended for a definite period. A copy of the details of the licenses suspended are herein annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/3. 7. That, it is submitted that as per the directions of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, NCORD, National Narcotics Coordination Committee has been established at the central level, state level and district level and the main object of the said committee is to provide enhance coordination amongst the stakeholders from the grass-root level to high level and for effectively combating against the menace of drugs. It is submitted that in NCORD committee Narcotics Coordination Center Committee in Bilaspur District comprises of all the senior officials including District 7 Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police and this committee meets at regular intervals to discuss about the steps taken with respect to check and control over the sale of drugs, drug abuse and action against the drugs paddlers. It is submitted that recently the meeting of the District Level and NCORD committee was held on 15.07.2025 wherein the various efforts undertaken in the Chetna drive were discussed and it was further resolved to make aware the people against the ill effects of use of drugs. It is further submitted that in the said meeting it was also decided to provide support to the D-addiction center. A copy of the minutes of the meeting dated 15.07.2025 is annexed herewith as ANNEXURE A/4. 4. Subsequently, the matter was listed and on due monitoring of the issue involved herein it is manifest that presently no such incident reported. 5. In view of the above, it would be appropriate to dispose of the present PIL. Accordingly, the present PIL is disposed of. File be consigned to the record room. SD/- SD/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) (Ramesh Sinha) Judge Chief Justice Gowri/Amardeep