Archive · 3 Aug 2026
MHA Urges States to Set Up Special NDPS Courts
The Indian government says there are almost 400,000 drug‑related cases that are still waiting in court.
To finish them faster, the Home Ministry told every state to open special courts that only handle these cases.
Punjab, for example, has about 60,000 cases and needs five new courts.
Kerala has 50,000 cases and only two courts, so nine more are needed.
The Supreme Court is worried that the long trials are hurting people, so the government wants more courts to speed things up.
Nearly 4 lakh NDPS cases are pending nationwide.
The Ministry of Home Affairs directed all states and Union Territories to set up exclusive NDPS courts.
Punjab has about 60,000 pending cases; five new courts are suggested for Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Sangrur.
Kerala has about 50,000 pending cases; nine new courts are recommended, but only two exist.
Only 65 special NDPS courts are currently functioning across India, according to the Narcotics Control Bureau.
- Who
- Ministry of Home Affairs, states and Union Territories, Narcotics Control Bureau
- What
- Directing the establishment of exclusive NDPS courts to reduce case backlog
- When
- After recent meetings over the past six months, directive issued now
- Where
- Across India, with specific focus on Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
- Why
- To expedite trials, address Supreme Court concerns about delays, and curb drug trafficking
- Pending NDPS cases
- 3.96 lakh
- Special NDPS courts currently functioning
- 65
- States with high backlog
- Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
- Suggested new courts in Punjab
- 5 (Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Sangrur)
- Suggested new courts in Kerala
- 9
- Suggested new courts in Odisha
- 8 this year, 7 in 2027-28