The Delhi government has established a three-member Advisory Board, headed by retired High Court judge Dharmesh Sharma, to enhance the fight against narcotics drugs. This Board aims to improve coordination among officials, law enforcers, and other stakeholders. Advocates Nalin Kohli and Gajender Kumar are also part of this Board, which has an initial term of one year.
The formation of this Board was mandated by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena and officially announced through the Delhi Gazette on February 17. The Board operates under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988, with its headquarters in Delhi.
According to recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Delhi saw 1,179 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act in 2022. The conviction rate for these cases was reported at 70 percent. In comparison, in 2021, there were 566 NDPS Act cases with a conviction rate of 65.5 percent. Additionally, in 2020, Delhi Police and other law enforcement agencies recorded 748 drugs-related cases under the NDPS Act, with a conviction rate of 55.6 percent.
The Union Home Ministry disclosed that a scheme named “Assistance to States and Union Territories for Narcotics Control” was initiated on October 24, 2004. This scheme aims to support state and Union Territory governments in enhancing their enforcement capabilities against illicit drug trafficking under the NDPS Act. Managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Narcotics Control Bureau, the scheme has been extended from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a budget of Rs 50 crore.
