📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Augustus Binu/ www.dreamsparrow.net/ facebook
Crime
Kerala High Court orders permanent staff for new NDPS courts by Sept 10
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 31 Aug 2026, 11:18 PM
👁 4
The Kerala government has been directed by the High Court to appoint permanent personnel for the newly constituted NDPS courts no later than 10 September.
The Kerala High Court, sitting in Thiruvananthapuram, issued a directive to the state government to ensure that permanent staff are in place for the newly formed Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) courts by 10 September. The order comes after petitions highlighted a shortage of judicial and support personnel, which could delay the disposal of drug‑related cases.
The court emphasized that the NDPS courts, set up to expedite trials involving narcotics offences, must be fully functional with qualified magistrates, prosecutors, clerks and technical staff. It warned that any further delay would undermine the objective of speedy justice and could affect public confidence in the legal system.
In response, the Kerala government has pledged to comply with the High Court's timeline, stating that the recruitment process for the required positions is already underway. Officials said they will prioritize appointments to meet the September deadline and will submit a compliance report to the court.
Legal experts note that the move underscores the judiciary's proactive role in addressing systemic bottlenecks in the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving drug trafficking and consumption, which have risen in recent years.
The decision is expected to strengthen the capacity of NDPS courts across the state, ensuring that cases are heard and disposed of without unnecessary postponements.
The court emphasized that the NDPS courts, set up to expedite trials involving narcotics offences, must be fully functional with qualified magistrates, prosecutors, clerks and technical staff. It warned that any further delay would undermine the objective of speedy justice and could affect public confidence in the legal system.
In response, the Kerala government has pledged to comply with the High Court's timeline, stating that the recruitment process for the required positions is already underway. Officials said they will prioritize appointments to meet the September deadline and will submit a compliance report to the court.
Legal experts note that the move underscores the judiciary's proactive role in addressing systemic bottlenecks in the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving drug trafficking and consumption, which have risen in recent years.
The decision is expected to strengthen the capacity of NDPS courts across the state, ensuring that cases are heard and disposed of without unnecessary postponements.