HC seeks report on rehab centres by Aug 31

CHANDIGARH: The private drug de-addiction centres have come under the scanner of the Punjab and Haryana high court as Justice TPS Mann of the HC, on Monday asked the director, Punjab health services to conduct raids in the centres and submit a report by August 31.HC also directed that no private de-addictioncentre in Punjab would be allowed to function without permission from the healthdepartment.The court further enquired into the the working of suchcentres and asked the director whether the centres are giving a proper treatmentto drug-addicts.While passing the orders, Justice Mann observed theseverity of drug addiction in Punjab.Justice Mann said that extrememeasures are adopted in curing drug addicts at unauthorised centres and ethicsare not observed. HC also issued a notice to Rajwant, manager of a Kharar basedJeewanjot organization accused of detaining a person illegally in the centre,asking him the reason for no contempt of court proceedings against him under thecontempt of court act.The directions were issued on Monday duringthe hearing of an ongoing petition filed by Manjit Kaur of Nabha against Khararbased private de-addiction centres.In her petition, Manjit Kaur hadalleged that her father Kuljeet Singh was illegally detained in Kharar basedde-addiction centre. She claimed that the HC that her father was a prestigiousperson and he was not suffering from any mental ailment nor is a drug addict,yet he was illegally confined at Jeewanjot organization inKharar.Acting on her petition, HC had appointed a warrant officerwho confirmed in his report that Kuljeet Singh was kept illegally in thecentre.Justice TPS Mann referred Kuljeet Singh to PGI and directedthe PGI director to determine if Kuljeet Singh was a drug addict or beingadministered any narcotic or psychotropic drug by the Jeewanjot organization.Further hearing of the case would be on August 10.