ON CM’S DIRECTIVE, PUNJAB POLICE FORMULATES COMPREHENSIVE REWARD POLICY UNDER NDPS ACT

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 9, 2019: Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Punjab Police has formulated a rewards policy for Government servants and informers under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The move is aimed at further strengthening the campaign against drugs, whose progress is now being monitored by the Chief Minister personally as head of the newly constituted consultative group for the scheme. Captain Amarinder Singh had, at a recent review meeting with top STF and administrative brass, asked the police department to draft a comprehensive policy document in this regard. A clear and concise policy will facilitate granting cash rewards in NDPS Act cases in an equitable and transparent manner to all those engaged in eradication of drug abuse, he had said. Under the policy, Informers whose information leads to seizure of narcotics drugs/ psychotropic substances/ controlled substances, besides the forfeiture of illegally acquired property, would be suitably rewarded. Officers/ Officials of Central Govt. or State Govt. (Police, Prosecutors, Officers of enforcement agencies of GoI) who make seizures or conduct successful investigation or ensure successful prosecution or achieve successful forfeiture of illegally acquired property under Chapter V-A would also be considered for reward, as per the policy. A 3-member committee in each District/Unit/Department, headed by the Head of Office, would be examining the cases based on the prescribed guidelines and make recommendations to ADGP/ STF for grant of reward. The recommendations will be scrutinized by a committee of officers at STF Headquarters and put up to ADGP/STF, the spokesperson stated further. ADGP/STF has been mandated to confirm rewards upto Rs. 60,000, while for all amounts above that the DGP Punjab would be the final authority. Government officers/ officials will normally be eligible for 50% of the maximum reward mentioned in policy. Rewards in excess of this limit may be considered only in cases where the government officer/official has exposed himself/herself to a great personal hazard or displayed exemplary courage, commendable initiative or resourcefulness of an extraordinary nature or where his/ her personal efforts have been mainly responsible for the detection of case of seizure.