Drugs and their abuse have been an ongoing issue across India, especially in a few states. While the government hasn’t really been able to crack down properly on suppliers and dealers, it would be a fallacy to term the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act a weak one.
That’s what BJP MP Nishikant Dubey seemed to suggest when he claimed that exemplary punishment was the need of the hour to combat the drug issue. His solution “ impose the death penalty on anyone arrested under the act, be it a supplier or a user.
To call this statement nonsensical would be apt. For one, the death penalty doesn’t really serve as a deterrent. Dubey, the MP from Jharkhand, pointed out to countries like Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, as well as Singapore, where the penalties are harsh for dealing in drugs and even other offences. But despite the amount of beheadings and cutting off of hands in Saudi Arabia, crime still continues.
This form of punishment is also quite barbaric and should not be imposed in India. This could have many adverse consequences. Dealers caught in a standoff with the police, knowing that if arrested they would be put to death, could be spurred on to kill as many police and bystanders before getting arrested or killed. There will also be issues in identifying first time offenders or even those who have been set up to take the fall.
The abuse of drugs can by no means be condoned. But there are better solutions than a widespread application of the death penalty. There are more humane ways to deal with drug abuse.
