Narcotics Control Bill, 2020 placed in Parliament; drops provision for forming separate tribunals
The Narcotics Control (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was placed in Parliament today, dropping the provision for setting up separate narcotic control tribunals and paving the way for competent courts to try narcotic-related crimes.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal placed the bill which was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny.
The Committee was asked to submit its report before the House within seven working days.
The bill was brought to have a provision of holding trial of narcotic-related cases in courts having the jurisdiction for quick disposal of such cases and easing the huge backlog of drug-related cases.
Under article 44 of the existing Narcotics Control Act 2018, Narcotics Control Tribunals had to be formed to try such cases.
But for administrative reasons, the Law and Justice Division could not set up any such tribunal or entrust the tribunal's responsibility with any additional district judge or sessions.
This led to complexities in disposal of related cases and the number of pending cases filed under the law has kept growing.
As per article 44 of the bill, the courts, having jurisdiction, can try narcotic-related cases as per the gravity of crimes. A sessions judge concerned or a metropolitan sessions judge concerned can fix one or more courts to try narcotic-related crimes in their respective areas.
In the bill, changes have been brought to 22 articles of the exiting act.
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