Rave parties matter-Law should be seen to be done

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It is indeed commendable on the part of the Pune Rural Police for starting a campaign against alcoholics and drug addicts. However it won't be proper to implicate all those who were present at the rave party. The real causes for these anti-social behaviors will have to be examined.

The youth who had gone to the party without knowing that it was a drugs party and on whose person no drugs were discovered will have to be treated separately. Under the Indian Evidence Act "Common intention" cannot be proved in this case. Therefore, to judge all of them for the same offence will be wrong and amount to violation of individual rights.

There is an urgent need to look at several questions, which have arisen on the backdrop of this incident. The connection between alcohol, narcotic substances and sex will lead to an increase in criminal tendency and violent tendency in society. Even though the campaign started by Shri Vishwas Nangre Patil is laudable, while interpreting the Narcotic Substances Act, it would have been better if a socio-liberal interpretation had been given.

In this matter taking a different outlook will be very helpful, for instance a different standard will have to be applied to first time offenders and those who are victims of various social problems. Therefore it won't be proper to apply the stringent provisions of NDPS Act to such cases. Those youth who are caught in the vicious cycle of the police, judicial process and jail are the victims of drug addiction. It can even lead to suicide in some cases. New alternatives will have to be discovered to deal with such victims of crime.

Many persons have felt the need for more information about the NDPS Act. It is necessary to know the background for introducing such an act. It is clear that there is a nexus between terrorist organizations and drug traffic organizations. It is absolutely clear that anti-social and anti-national organizations are buying and selling drugs to fund their activities. The violence in Kashmir or the separatist activities in the North Eastern States like Manipur, Assam and Nagaland has lead to a grave threat to national peace and security. Today Thailand, Burma and Laos which constitutes the 'Golden Triangle" and Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq which is known as the 'Golden Crescent', Caught between the two India has become an 'International Transit Point"

The United Nations adopted the first 'International Convention on Narcotics Drugs' in 1961. Amendments were made in 1972. While keeping in view the above two declarations the NDPS Act was passed in 1985. However there were several shortcomings in the above act, to correct which amendments were made in 1989 and 2001. The object of this act is to impose stiff penalties on narcotics trade and to destroy the very roots of this poisonous plant, which is undermining the society.