Today, 1st August, The Supreme Court ruled that bail may be granted in NDPS cases involving ganja and charas but not for those involving heroin. Emphasizing the severe impact of heroin, the Bench noted that it devastates lives and erases the younger generation. Consequently, the court denied bail to an accused in an NDPS case involving heroin.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Thursday, stated that it might consider granting bail in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) involving ganja (marijuana) or charas (hashish), but would likely deny bail in cases involving heroin.
A Bench comprising Justices CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol noted,
“It is important to understand that we have consistently shown leniency in granting bail for cases involving charas and ganja. However, when it comes to heroin, we must adopt a stricter stance.”
The Supreme Court recently heard the bail application of a 61-year-old woman accused of being in possession of 500 grams of heroin.
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This case had previously been dismissed by the Punjab & Haryana High Court, which denied bail due to the fact that the woman was found traveling in the same vehicle where the heroin discovered.
During the proceedings in the apex court, the defence counsel argued for bail, citing the woman’s advanced age and emphasizing that the narcotics were not found directly in her possession.
Justice CT Ravikumar, however, highlighted the gravity of the allegations, reminding the counsel that the woman is accused of carrying a significant amount of heroin.
Justice Sanjay Karol further stressed the severe implications of heroin use, stating,
“Heroin destroys everything. It completely devastates the younger generation. At this moment, we cannot intervene.”
Advocate Shrey Kapoor represented the appellant in the case, making a compelling plea for the woman’s release on bail.
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Despite the arguments presented, the Supreme Court’s stance on heroin-related offenses remains stringent due to the devastating impact of the drug on society.
This distinction between ganja, charas, and heroin cases highlights the court’s nuanced approach in dealing with different substances under the NDPS Act.