The Kerala High Court has taken a firm stance on the rising incidence of drug abuse among school and college students in Ernakulam, initiating suo motu action and expressing deep concern over what it described as a growing menace threatening the fabric of the education system. The court was hearing a plea filed by a concerned mother who highlighted the severity of drug consumption among students. During the hearing, the bench criticized the lack of comprehensive data provided by the Home Department and emphasized the need for accurate, long-term statistics on drug use patterns. It directed the Chief Secretary of the State Government to furnish detailed records from the last ten years, including the demographics of users, geographical areas most affected, and the overall trends in substance abuse among youth.
The court’s concern was heightened by the revelation that Ernakulam district had registered the highest number of drug abuse cases in the state. Dissatisfied with the State’s preliminary response—merely listing case numbers without any analytical insights—the court summoned the Commissioner of Police, Ernakulam, to personally appear and explain the steps being taken to address the issue. The court stressed the need for targeted and concrete action, not just generic law enforcement statistics.
What particularly alarmed the court were intelligence reports indicating that over 400 educational institutions in Kerala, including both schools and colleges, were affected by drug use. The court noted that students were not only consuming traditional narcotic substances such as ganja and hashish but also synthetic drugs and commonly available inhalants like correction fluid, adhesives, and ink, which are not covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. These substances, although not technically classified as narcotics, were being misused for intoxication and were contributing to a silent and unchecked epidemic within educational environments.
The High Court referred to its ongoing suo motu proceedings initiated in 2019, which were based on a letter from a former Director General of Police, warning of the growing grip of narcotic substances on the youth. Reiterating earlier directions, the court called for the establishment of Campus Police Units to actively monitor school and college premises, conduct surprise inspections, and coordinate with institutions in preventive actions. It urged the use of rapid drug detection kits and emphasized the role of awareness and education campaigns to combat the problem at its root.
Moreover, the court recognized that policing alone would not be sufficient to address the issue. It advocated for a multipronged strategy involving parents, teachers, educational authorities, and mental health professionals. Schools and colleges were directed to strengthen their counseling systems and to include anti-drug education as part of their regular curriculum. The court specifically suggested integrating drug awareness into higher secondary syllabi and working with programs such as Student Police Cadets, NCC, and NSS to instill awareness and vigilance among students.
In conclusion, the Kerala High Court underscored that a data-driven, community-based, and preventive approach is necessary to root out the growing drug abuse problem in the state’s educational institutions. The decision to summon the Police Commissioner and demand accountability from the highest levels of administration reflects the court’s serious and proactive stance on the matter. The upcoming hearings are expected to shape a robust framework for intervention, aiming to secure the future of thousands of students and uphold the sanctity of educational spaces.
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