KOLKATA: Calcutta High Court has directed all investigating officers seizing drugs above "commercial quantity" to videograph the process, failing which they will face departmental probe, commenting that draconian provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) are "sometimes misused" by investigating agencies, leading to false implications and prolonged unjustified detentions.
The court said its directive was binding not only for officers of the state police, but also for those from all central agencies — including Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) officers — who are empowered to search and seize narcotics under the NDPS Act.
In its order on Wednesday, the court directed senior officers, of the rank of additional police superintendent and above, to ensure compliance, asking the Bengal Police DGP and the heads of all central agencies that probe drugs cases to issue orders on this. It also sought reports from the Centre and NCB before the next hearing in matter comes up for hearing again in two weeks.
