India, April 7 -- The Himachal Pradesh high court has imposed a cost of Rs.10 lakh on the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government for its persistent failure to strengthen judicial infrastructure, casting doubt on its commitment to a drug-free state.

A division bench led by chief justice GS Sandhawalia observed that "not even a leaf has moved" despite repeated requests from the Union ministry of law to create special courts for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases. The court dismissed the state's assurances as "hollow promises," noting that no effective steps have been taken to upgrade infrastructure that was established 20 years ago.

The court has directed the principal secretary, finance, to disclose the perce...