Expert Committee Formed To Tackle Wild Growth Of Cannabis: States And UT Admin To Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Governments of Punjab, Haryana and UT administration Chandigarh has informed the Punjab & Haryana High Court that to tackle with the problem of wild growth of cannabis in the towns, a committee of experts from the Horticulture Department, Agriculture Department and Agricultural University has been constituted, and advice of the experts has been sought to deal with the issue.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal was hearing a suo moto case on the issue of Cannabis plants growing indiscriminately all over the towns.

The Court noted that counsel for Union Territory, Chandigarh as well as States of Punjab and Haryana are at consensus that the problem of wild growth of cannabis "needs to be dealt with."

In the previous hearing, the Court had asked the Standing counsels “to file status reports of the experts in the field as to whether there is any permanent solution to the said problem or not.”

However, the bench said, "Since efforts have already been undertaken by three establishments" it is inclined to grant time.

Earlier, the division bench of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sandeep Moudgil had rapped Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Council for their lackadaisical approach to clearing the wild growth of Cannabis in the city.

"This Court is amazed at such response wherein a casual affidavit has been filed (Municipal Corp.) Such an issue needs to be addressed with all seriousness and a special team of staff including the labour must be deployed to ensure that no such wild growth of cannabis plant ever grows again but it does not seem to be the intention of Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh,” the Court had then observed.

The matter is listed for December 09, for further consideration.

Title: Court on its own motion v. State of Punjab and others

Mr. Anurag Chopra, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Pawan Girdhar, Addl. Advocate General, Haryana.

Mr. Sanjiv Ghai, Advocate, and Mr. Parminder S. Kaul, Advocate, for respondent – M.C. Chandigarh.

Click here to read/download the order