High Court Flags Rising Drug Cases Among Students in Ernakulam, Demands Action Plan

The Kerala High Court has observed that Ernakulam district reports the highest number of drug cases involving schoolchildren and youth in the state. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nithin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran noted that the state’s measures to curb the increasing threat of drug abuse among school and college students are not effective. The court was hearing petitions filed by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) and two mothers of affected children.

The court directed the state government to prepare an action plan to address the issue. According to an affidavit submitted by the Home Department, Ernakulam City recorded the highest number of drug cases involving minors (below 18 years) between 2015 and 2024, with a total of 53 cases registered in the city alone. However, the court observed that the data provided by the government fails to explain local trends, age-related vulnerabilities, or the underlying causes of drug use. The court stressed the need for a centralized study to understand these factors before effective measures can be implemented.

The Ernakulam City Police Commissioner has also been instructed to formulate a specific plan. The court further noted that the shortage of staff in forensic labs is impacting the progress of drug cases. The High Court Registrar has been directed to provide information on the number of pending cases in courts due to delayed forensic reports. The government is also expected to provide an explanation. Additionally, the court observed that the non-appointment of Special Public Prosecutors in POCSO cases is affecting their proceedings.