 Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 20: Justice MA Chowdhary of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has dismissed two separate petitions challenging preventive detention orders against Rajouri residents Parveen Akhter and Mohd. Shakoor, holding that their continued involvement in drug trafficking posed a “grave threat to the youth and society at large.”
Parveen Akhter, 24, wife of Haroon Rashid, and resident of Ward No. 2, Rajouri, had been detained under Order No. PITNDPS-41 of 2024 passed by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, on November 12, 2024. She challenged the order citing violation of constitutional safeguards, delay in execution, and reliance on past cases dating back to 2019.
Rejecting her plea, the court observed that Akhter was named in multiple NDPS cases in Rajouri and Jammu and had shown a repeated tendency to indulge in drug trafficking. “Her repeated acts of illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances are sufficient to justify preventive detention,” the court noted, stressing the irreversible damage such activities cause to unemployed youth and public health.
In a similar case, Mohd. Shakoor, son of Mohd. Bashir and resident of Dhanidhar, Rajouri, was detained under Order No. PITNDPS-39 of 2024 issued on November 6, 2024. His wife, Shabnum Kouser, moved the petition contending that the detention order violated Article 22(5) of the Constitution, as documents were not properly communicated and his representation went unheard.
The state, however, countered that Shakoor was a habitual drug peddler, facing five NDPS-related FIRs between 2012 and 2024. He had earlier been preventively detained in 2022 but returned to drug trafficking after release. The court held that ordinary criminal law had failed to deter him and upheld the detention to safeguard public order.
Justice Chowdhary reiterated that preventive detention is a protective measure, not a punishment, aimed at averting potential harm from repeat offenders engaged in illicit narcotics trade. The court underlined the severe consequences of drug trafficking, linking it to narco-terrorism, arms smuggling, and money laundering.
“Drug trafficking poses a serious threat to the health and welfare of people, especially the younger generation. Preventive detention becomes imperative when repeated offenders continue to endanger society,” the judgment observed. Both petitions were dismissed, and the detention orders were upheld. (JNF) |
