The Punjab Cabinet has approved 35 exclusive courts for cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, an administrative and judicial expansion aimed at dealing with a large and persistent trial backlog in the state. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The move comes against the backdrop of 52,577 pending drug cases recorded in Punjab as of August 31, 2026. The state government estimates that an NDPS case currently takes about eight years on average to reach disposal. The proposed dedicated courts are intended to separate the drug-case workload from the broader responsibilities of regular Sessions Courts and make hearings more consistent.
New courts and additional staff
The Cabinet has sanctioned 385 posts to support the first phase of the initiative. The approved positions include 35 Additional District and Sessions Judges, 315 members of supporting staff and 35 Assistant District Attorneys. The appointments are expected to provide the judicial, administrative and prosecution capacity required for the new courts to function as specialised units.
The estimated expenditure for the programme is ₹75 crore, including the cost of infrastructure. The allocation covers the physical and institutional requirements associated with setting up the courts, although the source material does not specify the locations or the individual timelines for making each court operational.
| Component | Approved provision |
|---|---|
| Exclusive NDPS courts | 35 |
| Additional District and Sessions Judges | 35 |
| Supporting staff | 315 |
| Assistant District Attorneys | 35 |
| Estimated expenditure | ₹75 crore |
Backlog against annual workload
According to the Chief Minister's Office, Punjab records approximately 20,000 NDPS cases and around 27,000 arrests every year. About 12,000 of these cases are handled by Sessions Courts, while roughly 5,700 cases are disposed of annually. The gap between the volume entering the system and the number concluded each year has contributed to the accumulation of pending matters.
For families affected by drug use, the figures represent more than an institutional delay. A case may involve an accused person awaiting trial, a family seeking clarity on allegations, or witnesses and investigating personnel required to return repeatedly for hearings. Faster proceedings would not by themselves decide guilt or innocence, but they could shorten the period during which cases remain unresolved.
High Court assessment behind first phase
The requirement for more exclusive Special NDPS Courts was assessed by the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The assessment envisaged clearing the backlog over a period of five to seven years. The Cabinet has accepted 35 courts as the first phase of that response.
The decision therefore places the focus on trial capacity rather than only on registration of cases and arrests. The government's annual figures indicate the scale of enforcement activity, while the pending-case count highlights the pressure on the judicial system. The additional judges, court staff and prosecutors are meant to address several points in that chain at the same time.
What the specialised courts are expected to change
The government expects the dedicated courts to bring quicker hearings, reduce adjournment-related delays and improve the use of government witnesses. In drug prosecutions, the availability and repeated appearance of official witnesses can be important to the progress of a trial. A court structure focused on NDPS matters could allow hearings, documentation and examination of witnesses to be organised around a more defined caseload.
- Trial speed: exclusive benches are expected to concentrate on NDPS matters.
- Case management: additional staff may help organise records and court proceedings.
- Prosecution capacity: 35 Assistant District Attorneys have been sanctioned.
- Witness utilisation: the government expects better coordination in the appearance of official witnesses.
The existing designated courts will continue to operate until the new exclusive Special NDPS Courts are established. This provision is intended to maintain continuity in ongoing proceedings and avoid an administrative gap while the new arrangement is put in place.
Implementation will determine impact
The Cabinet approval is an important institutional step, but its effect will depend on how quickly the sanctioned posts are filled, the courts are equipped and cases are distributed. The source material does not provide a court-wise allocation, recruitment schedule or a projected annual disposal target for the new benches. Those details will be significant in measuring whether the plan can reduce the backlog within the five-to-seven-year period assessed by the High Court's Registrar General.
Punjab's drug-control debate has often centred on enforcement figures. The latest decision adds the judicial pendency to that public discussion. With tens of thousands of NDPS cases awaiting conclusion, the state is now seeking to strengthen the part of the system that follows investigation and arrest. The success of the 35-court plan will ultimately be judged by whether it produces timely, fair and sustained adjudication without compromising due process.
