Mandatory Dope Test For All State Govt Employees

Mandatory Dope Test For All State Govt Employees

Days after the Punjab Cabinet recommended death penalty for drug traffickers to the Centre, State Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ordered a mandatory dope test of all government employees, including police personnel, from the time of their recruitment through every stage of their service, ANI reported.

Singh has directed the chief secretary to work out the modalities and have the necessary notification issued in this regard.

At a five-hour Cabinet meeting, called amid protests in the state over the increasing number of reported deaths due to drugs, it was on Monday decided that Singh would write to the Department of Home, Government of India, to make a case for getting capital punishment included in the NDPS Act.

The order comes two days after the government recommended the death penalty for people convicted of smuggling or peddling drugs. Singh on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recommending death penalty for first-time drug offenders.

On Tuesday, state Rural and Housing Development Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa demanded a dope test of police officials from the level of deputy superintendent of police to inspector general.

“My govt has decided to recommend the death penalty for drug peddling/smuggling. The recommendation is being forwarded to the Union government. Since drug peddling is destroying entire generations, it deserves exemplary punishment. I stand by my commitment for a drug-free Punjab,” Singh had tweeted after the meeting.

Source: ANI