The Kerala High Court on Monday observed that concerted efforts should be made to check drug trafficking and drug abuse to ensure public health as well as the protection of national interest.
Justice K.T. Sankaran, while dismissing a bail petition filed by an accused in a drug trafficking case, said that apart from the evil effects of drugs on the citizen, drug trafficking would adversely affect unity, integrity and stability of the nation since it had a close nexus with terrorist activities. It was common knowledge that terrorists required funds for carrying out their activities. It was also well known that money from drug trafficking was being used to promote terrorism in the country.
Opposing the bail petition, the prosecutor submitted that the accused was arrested by the Perumpadappu police station in Kozhikode district in a case relating to smuggling in brown sugar valued at Rs.50 lakh.
The court noted that the case diary did not reveal any positive steps taken for collecting necessary data. Steps must be taken to bring to book the guilty and snap the chain of the drug trafficking activities.
Cmpensation
Justice Antony Dominic has ordered a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the wife and children of Ignatius D'souza of Mangalore who was killed in the Mangalore air crash.
The court directed the National Aviation Company of India (Air India) to pay them the compensation within two weeks. The order came on a writ petition filed by Patricia D'souza, wife of Ignatius D'Souza .The petitioners sought a directive to the Air India to settle the entire statutory claim of the petitioners. They said they had submitted their claims before the air carrier company for the quantified damages payable as per the Carriage by Air Act 1972. However, the company had asked the petitioners to accept its offer of compensation which was less than what was qualified and entitled to them under the Act. The action of ir India was arbitrary.
