'Very easy to ruin the youth', Supreme Court slams Punjab govt over drug menace

The Supreme Court has asked the Punjab government to issue a circular stating that local police will be held accountable for illegal liquor manufacturing units (bhattis) operating under their vigil.

The directions were issued by a bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar on a petition challenging an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had refused to transfer the probe into the cases of illegal liquor manufacturing to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the petitioner, there is a bhatti in every mohalla (locality) in Punjab.

The Court remarked that this was unfortunate and said that the police have to make every effort to save the country, as it is very easy to ruin the youth, especially in border states like Punjab.
"This is unfortunate. Punjab is a border State. If somebody wants to finish the country, they will start with the borders. They (the police) have to take every effort to save the country. It is very easy to ruin the youth," the Court said.

The Court, therefore, directed the State to file a reply mentioning steps taken by it to fight domestic, commercial production of illicit liquor and how seized funds will be used for awareness campaigns or increasing manpower.

It further suggested that the State come out with a circular that if an illegal bhatti is found, the concerned local police will be held responsible for not being vigilant.
The matter will be heard further on December 12, 2022.