Legal Labyrinths: Examining the Complexity of Drug Abuse Cases Pendency in Punjab, India
Author(s): Rahul SK, Raj Kumar Yadav*, Govind Singh Rajpurohit, Paramveer Singh, Somanpreet Singh, Vaishali Verma, Mayank Bharadwaj, Priyanka Chaudhary, Madhu Bala, Mumtaz Zabeen Khan and Aarushi Mittal
Abstract
This research paper explores the long-standing issue of drug abuse cases in Punjab, northern India, and the impact on people and communities. The study aims to investigate the underlying causes of this backlog, analyze its impact on the criminal justice system and society, and propose effective solutions to mitigate it. The research methodology combines doctrinal and qualitative approaches, focusing on drug pendency cases. The main author’s doctoral research focuses on pendency of cases, with other researchers providing suggestions and studies to find solutions on drug abuse cases in this research work. The NCRB data from 2017-2022 was analyzed, and the gap in 2023 was filled using news sources, Punjab Economic Survey reports, and literature, along with legal databases, court records, and case archives.
The paper presents evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at reforming legal processes, enhancing judicial efficiency, and mitigating the social fallout of the case backlog. It calls for a holistic approach that combines legal reforms with community-based interventions to address the multifaceted challenges posed by drug abuse cases in Punjab.
The study urges collaboration between legal authorities, policymakers, and civil society to address drug abuse cases, emphasizing the importance of timely access to justice, as delays can be a social cost unaffordable for any society.
