📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Satdeep Gill
Crime
Punjab High Court warns of growing drug dependence among prison inmates
✍️ Bar and Bench
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 12:18 AM
👁 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has described the rise in drug dependence among prisoners as a serious concern, citing reports that many inmates become addicted after incarceration.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised alarm over a troubling trend within the state's correctional facilities. According to court observations, a significant number of inmates develop drug dependence after being admitted to prison, indicating that substance abuse is proliferating behind bars.
Judicial officials described the situation as "serious" and called for immediate action to curb the spread of narcotics inside jails. The court highlighted that the availability of drugs inside prisons not only endangers the health of inmates but also undermines the objectives of the penal system.
Legal experts suggest that the problem may stem from inadequate screening, lax security, and the infiltration of drug networks into correctional institutions. They recommend stricter monitoring, regular drug testing, and rehabilitation programs to address addiction among prisoners.
The High Court's remarks come amid broader concerns about drug abuse across Punjab, a state already grappling with a severe narcotics crisis. Authorities are expected to review prison policies and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to stem the flow of illicit substances into detention centers.
The court has urged the state government to submit a detailed action plan within a stipulated timeframe, emphasizing that failure to act could invite further judicial scrutiny.
Judicial officials described the situation as "serious" and called for immediate action to curb the spread of narcotics inside jails. The court highlighted that the availability of drugs inside prisons not only endangers the health of inmates but also undermines the objectives of the penal system.
Legal experts suggest that the problem may stem from inadequate screening, lax security, and the infiltration of drug networks into correctional institutions. They recommend stricter monitoring, regular drug testing, and rehabilitation programs to address addiction among prisoners.
The High Court's remarks come amid broader concerns about drug abuse across Punjab, a state already grappling with a severe narcotics crisis. Authorities are expected to review prison policies and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to stem the flow of illicit substances into detention centers.
The court has urged the state government to submit a detailed action plan within a stipulated timeframe, emphasizing that failure to act could invite further judicial scrutiny.