Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Tashi Rabstan, on Wednesday stressed the need for a collaborative and integrated approach to combat the rising drug menace in the two Union Territories.
Addressing a seminar on drug abuse, organised by the J-K High Court Bar Association Jammu in collaboration with the Criminologists Society of J-K at the lawyers' chambers, Justice Rabstan highlighted the crucial role of the legal fraternity in this fight.
He urged lawyers to actively participate in awareness and prevention initiatives while emphasising that the newly introduced criminal laws would serve as a strong deterrent against drug-related crimes.
Sharing his past experiences as chairperson of the State Legal Services Authority, Justice Rabstan spoke about his efforts in educating students in schools and colleges through "nukkad nataks" (street plays), skits, and dramas, along with panel discussions involving legal experts.
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He reiterated that community engagement and legal awareness are vital to curbing drug abuse under the framework of the central government's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. High Court Judge Sanjeev Kumar, who also spoke at the event, identified two key aspects of the drug menace: the victims who consume illegal substances and those involved in the cultivation and distribution of narcotics.
He underscored the importance of rehabilitation through counseling and alternative therapies for drug users, while also advocating strict legal action against drug traffickers to serve as a deterrent.
Criminologists Society President Rameshwar Singh Jamwal called for the judiciary's support in addressing the issue more effectively, urging senior judges to play an active role in shaping policies and legal strategies aimed at eradicating drug abuse from the region.
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