RAJIV BOOLCHAND JAIN Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present petition, filed as a Public Interest Litigation, seeks the following reliefs:

(2.) Broadly, the petition seeks directions qua regulation/ management of drug and alcohol de-addiction centres across India. It is averred that India, being one of the most populated countries in the world, has millions of victims of drug usage and alcohol dependence. Drug and alcohol addiction is a major area of concern as it erodes public health and the social fabric. Government of India tackles this problem through 'supply reduction' and 'demand reduction' - the former is under the Department of Revenue, (Ministry of Finance), the nodal agency, and the latter under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment ["MoSJE"].

(3.) MoSJE implements the "Scheme for Prohibition and Drug Abuse Prevention" since 1985-86, wherein the services are offered on voluntary partnerships with NGOs and majority of the cost of service is borne by Government of India. Under the said scheme, MoSJE is assisting 500 voluntary organisations for maintaining more than 1000 Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts ["IRCAs"] across the country. The IRCAs adopt a variety of approaches, systems and methods for treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. However, said centres are not engaged in creating any awareness or imparting education to members of the society on the illeffects of drug and alcohol abuse, or on the services provided by the centres.