Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha has passed a bill with severe capital punishment for people engaged in organized crime in drug and liquor smuggling, resulting in death of a person.
The Himachal Pradesh Organized Crimes (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025, which was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was passed on the last day of the session on Friday.
The bill has stringent penalties for crimes like drug trafficking, illegal mining, deforestation, human organ trafficking, wildlife trafficking and cyber terrorism.
The CM said, “The aim of the HP Organized Crimes (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2025, is to tackle organized crime, safeguard public safety and economic stability. Anybody found possessing, purchasing, transporting or supplying drugs can face imprisonment and death penalty as well, besides a provision for Rs 10 lakh penalty for drug traffickers.”
“A provision has been made for capital punishment and imprisonment in case of the death of a person due to violence by a crime syndicate. The Bill targets financial networks of those involved in crimes and seizure and attachment of the property of persons engaged in such illegal activities and enhanced punishments and penalties for repetition of crimes.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a virtual meeting with all Deputy Commissioners on Saturday directed the administration to complete the mapping of drug networks, including suppliers and consumers of ‘Chitta’, at panchayat level by April 20 this year.
Chairing a high-level meeting, the Chief Minister directed all Superintendents of Police (SPs) to prepare detailed dossiers on drugs peddlers and consumers at panchayat level with utmost seriousness and directed all SPs to intensify efforts to dismantle the drugs network through strict surveillance and continuous monitoring of drug-related activities.
The CM said, “The state government has passed the Act, which should be effectively implemented; the government is considering establishing drug de-addiction centers in all districts and instructed DCs to identify vacant government buildings for this purpose.”
