Srinagar, May 9, 2025 – The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has upheld an advisory requiring chemists across the Union Territory to install CCTV cameras and adopt computerized billing systems at retail pharmacies and wholesale drug outlets. The ruling, aimed at combating the illegal sale of prohibited drugs, including psychotropic substances and narcotics, was delivered in response to a petition challenging the advisory under the Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan campaign.
The court’s decision reinforces the J&K administration’s zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and drug abuse, addressing the alarming rise of substance abuse in the region. According to estimates, J&K has approximately 1.35 million drug users, predominantly youth, with a significant surge in heroin addiction. The advisory mandates strict compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, requiring chemists to maintain detailed records of prescriptions, including dispensing dates, quantities, and chemist stamps, alongside installing CCTV surveillance to monitor transactions.
The court dismissed privacy violation concerns, stating that the measures target public-facing commercial activities and are proportionate to the public health crisis. The ruling aligns with recommendations from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Narcotics Control Bureau, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance to prevent the sale of Schedule H, H1, and X drugs.
This decision marks a significant step in J&K’s fight against the drug menace, ensuring stricter oversight of pharmacies and reinforcing efforts to create a drug-free society under the Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyan.