NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT (NDPS 1985) : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act is an Act which was presented in the Parliament of India and came into existence on 14th November 1985, it prohibits the person to produce, manufacture, cultivate, possess, sell purchase, transport, and store or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance in any form. The main aim of this law is to control the manufacture and distribution of drugs, to keep check on quality of drugs, to mandate the display of ingredients of drugs and to prevent substance abuse in the society. Cannabis and its derivatives (marijuana, hashish/charas, and bhang) were legally sold until 1985 and their recreational use was common place before the enactment of the Act. The violation of this law results in the punishment which includes rigorous imprisonment or fine or both. The degree of the punishment depends upon the harshness of the case which is being dealt with. The present study is a look into the limitations and the drawbacks of the Act and its competency in implementations of the NDPS law.