The Apex Court Bench made it clear that no extension of time would be granted to Government and AIIMS in formulating the policy on Drug Menace as the issue was of “national importance”. The bench directed to finalise the report of the High Powered Committee on or before September 7″.

Supreme Court in December 2016, had issued a slew of guidelines and had asked Centre to formulate within 6 months National Action Plan to curb rising substance abuse cases among school children and had also ordered a national survey to gauge the extent of the menace.

Study by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights on substance abuse by kids showed last year stated that 100 per cent of the children in conflict with the law were drug abusers, 95.5 per cent of them staying in childcare institutions were on drugs and 93 per cent of street children consumed narcotics.