The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a plea seeking framing of laws or regulations to curb drug trafficking and peddling.
A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud asked Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh to take instructions and give response in three weeks.
The bench was hearing the PIL filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda seeking direction to the Centre to frame laws or regulations to stop drug trafficking and peddling.
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Earlier, the bench had also asked the Centre to spell out the action taken by it for implementation of the apex court direction on ensuring safe custody of narcotics and psychotropic substances seized by the enforcement agencies.
It had asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to inform the court about the progress in setting up de-addiction centers for rehabilitation of drug addicts.
The PIL has raised several issues including safe custody of the seized narcotics and steps taken for setting up of rehabilitation centres.
It sought intensified patrolling on the borders by armed forces so that smuggling of drugs can be checked and restricted efficiently.
The petitioner also sought amendment in laws relating to drug smuggling and said death sentence needs to be introduced in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for repeat offenders of drug trafficking.
"There needs to be change in the procedure for disposal of drugs and psychotropic substances which are caught and seized by the authorities concerned," the PIL said.
It alleged the central and state governments have miserably failed in controlling the rising menace as no strict action was being taken to check and prevent drug peddling, trafficking and addictions.
The PIL, which sought direction issued to Centre, state governments, Defence Ministry, Home Ministry, and Police Department, claimed that with a turnover of around USD 500 billion, drug is the third largest business in the world, after petroleum and arms trade.
