Drugs in jails: HC tells Punjab to submit DIG's report

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to produce the report of the deputy inspector general of police, Patiala range, LK Yadav, pertaining to investigations into smuggling of drugs in jails of the state.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to produce the report of the deputy inspector general of police, Patiala range, LK Yadav, pertaining to investigations into smuggling of drugs in jails of the state.

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The directions came from the division bench headed by acting chief justice Jasbir Singh during resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate HC Arora.

Arora had informed the high court that as per media reports, Yadav had submitted a report to the state government authorities, informing that 40% of the total drugs smuggled inside Punjab jails were through jail officials.

The report had mentioned that warders, head warders, vocational instructors and officials such as assistant jail superintendents and deputy jail superintendents were involved in facilitating the entry of drugs by removing "inconvenient" personnel from the entrance gate of jails.

The petitioner had stated that if the high court summoned the report, it would be in a better position to issue required directions to the state government authorities to check the supply of drugs in jails.

The case has been adjourned for the next hearing to September 6.