Haryana, Sept. 1 -- More than 44 per cent of inmates in Punjab's jails are dependent on drugs, the state government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday. According to a status report examined by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rajesh Gaur, 15,768 of the 35,449 inmates lodged across Punjab's jails are drug-dependent.
The figures are particularly high in some jails. In Amritsar, 2,124 of the 4,918 inmates are drug-dependent, while in Bathinda, the number stands at 1,064 out of 1,978 inmates. The court noted that most of the drug-dependent inmates are in their prime youth and described the situation as a serious challenge requiring the state's highest priority. The bench also questioned what policy was in place to help inmates overcome drug dependence. The court also considered concerns that inmates could face health problems if they are not given their prescribed drug doses by authorities. It said a workable solution would have to be found to address the issue.
The proceedings are part of a suo motu case initiated by the court in July after a report by the administrative judge of the Mansa Sessions Division highlighted drug dependence among jail inmates. The report said drug-dependent inmates are being given Buprenorphine in combination with Naloxone, with the dosage ranging from one to four tablets depending on their medical condition and treatment requirements. It also found that out of 767 inmates in one jail, 530 were registered with the Out-Patient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) Clinic operating within the jail premises. This meant around 69 per cent of the inmates there were undergoing treatment at the clinic. The High Court said drug-dependent inmates cannot be left in such a situation indefinitely and decided to monitor the matter on a weekly basis. It also sought information from Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration about drug-dependent inmates in their respective jails and asked the Union government to assist in the matter.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 8.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.