AIIMS declares premises drug-free zone, strict actions against those indulged

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, on Tuesday declared its premises drugs-free zone, recommending action against staffs, students and patients indulged in violating the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (1985).

“The entire world is facing the menace of drug addiction including many Educational Institutions, which has a devastating impact on the addict, individual, family & a large section of society. Our main objective intends to reach out to the masses and spread awareness about substance abuse”, said AIIMS in an official notification.

“Where the contravention involves small quantity (<1 kg), with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to 10,000 or with both; where the contravention involves quantity lesser than commercial quantity but greater than small quantity, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and with fine which may extend to one lakh; where the contravention involves commercial quantity, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 10 years but which may extend to 20 years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than one lakh but which may extend to two lakhs”, said the hospital.

The hospital said that the list under the NDPS Act mentions the names of all substances banned or controlled in India. The list uses the International Non-proprietary Name (INN) of the drugs but in some cases mentions drugs by their chemical name. Widely known drugs such as Ganja, Cocaine, Heroin etc. are mentioned by those names. Cultivation, production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, consumption or distribution of any of the following substances and as per the rules or orders and conditions of licences that may be issued, is illegal.

The hospital has also requested all HODs to bring this to the knowledge of the Staff and Students working under them. The security personnel have also been instructed to not to allow the patients, attendants, visitors and staff members to use drugs, in any form, in the premises of AllMS, New Delhi.

“If Outside Personnel or any Drug Peddler found selling above mentioned drugs, the Security Personnel to be instructed to take Video/Photograph of the culprit and he/she should be handed over to the police immediately and completely banned from entering into the AllMS premises in near future”, the notification said.