Shillong, May 7: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state authorities to file status report on the action taken based on the action plan for demand reduction as formulated by the state as per the National Drug Policy, within ten days.

The order was passed by the division bench comprising of Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice HS Thangkhiew on Tuesday while taking strong note on the dangerous consequences of the use of drug and its uncontrolled monitoring.

While hearing a PIL filed by the chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) M Kharkongor, the bench also directed the state’s director general of police (DGP) to constitue a special task force (STF) for conducting surprise inspection.

The bench asserted that if the action plan for drug demand reduction/supply reduction of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances formulated by the state is implemented in its real spirt then definitely ground position would change adding “the fact of the matter is that ground realities are somewhat different.”

The affidavit filed by the Amicus, after his first visit to various drug addiction centres and OST, revealed that situation is day by day deteriorating. Drug abuse and drug trafficking is totally on the rise, taking in to its sweep even small children.

Amicus, on the request of the Court after visiting various areas collected information, has prepared number of suggestions which according to him are consistent with the National Action Plan and Action Plan prepared by the state of Meghalaya.

The bench in its order directed the state authorities including the Social Welfare Department, Health and Family Welfare Department and Home Department to examine and to file their respective responses.

“In addition thereto, they (state authorities) shall also file status regarding action taken on the basis of Action Plan for demand reduction as has been formulated by the State as per the National Drug Policy,” it said.

“If Action Plan is really implemented, then why has the situation not been brought under control? For the time being, till requisite responses are filed regarding suggestions of Amicus, we direct the respondent authorities to take immediate measures to check OST centres and other deaddiction centres,” the order stated.

Further, the bench directed the DGP to constitute a special task force team of dedicated officers/officials of police department who shall periodically have surprise inspection of various locations which include parks, school gates and guest house gates so as to check if there is any movement of drug traffickers then to take necessary action under law.

According to the bench, the task force committee so constituted shall be asked to move occasionally in civil clothes. Only then, they shall be in a position to see what is happening at the ground level.

It is directed in view of unfortunate incidents of drug abuse and roaming of certain boys and beggars under the influence of drugs.

The DGP was also directed to make public their (police officials) contact numbers so that any citizen noticing any boy or girl or any person of any age indulging in drugs or are supporting use of drugs will inform the concerned Task Force or in the alternative they can create helpline which shall be accessible 24/7 to anyone.

Stating that it has to be a collective effort of all responsible citizens to help in eradicating the menace of drugs, the bench said, “Social impact shall be of great help in motivating the person of every age to shun the path of use, misuse, abuse and sale of narcotic drugs.”

Meanwhile, the bench has also directed the Social Welfare Department to initiate a special programme by holding special awareness camps once a week in different parts of the state with special focus at the first instance in Shillong.

“While doing so, they shall involve for help all responsible citizens of concerned localities. Contents of t