SHVETA MASHIWAL Vs. STATE OF UTTARAKHAND AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Since the common questions of law and facts are involved in both these petitions, therefore, same are being taken up together and are being adjudicated by this common judgment. In order to maintain clarity, the facts of WPPIL No. 160 of 2017 are taken into consideration.

(2.) A question of grave public importance has been raised in these petitions. According to the averments made in WPPIL No. 160 of 2017, the menace of drug peddling, drug addiction and other drugs trafficking issues have increased manifold in major cities or towns throughout the State of Uttarakhand. The menace has also spread to the schools, colleges and Universities. This issue has been highlighted in the daily edition of the "The Times of India", Dehradun dated 20.10.2016 under the caption "Drug abuse among youngsters an acute problem in Uttarakhand". The same issue was highlighted in leading news website "hillpost.in" titled as "Dehradun is Drug Haven of Uttarakhand" dated 102012 as well as in "Haldwani Live.Com" titled as "Growing Drug Abuse Causing Problem in Uttarakhand" dated 006.2017. In Writ Petition No.78 of 2018, petitioner has prayed for the strict enforcement of Section 71 of the NDPS Act.

(3.) The petitioners have sought direction to the respondents to take immediate effective necessary steps to control, prevent and solve the problem of rising drug addiction, drug trafficking and drug peddling in the State of Uttarakhand. The petitioner had also sought a direction to the State Government to make younger generation aware of ill-effects of consumption of drugs.