Taking a tough stand on the rising number of illegal hotels and commercial establishments in the State, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh has sought a detailed reply from the State Government.

Taking up a Public Interest litigation, initiated suo-motu by the High Court, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma directed the Chief Secretary to file his personal affidavit regarding the unauthorised construction and running of hotels and commercial establishments without statutory sanctions, more specifically at Village Kasol in Kullu.

The Bench also directed the Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh to file the action taken report in the matter.

The matter of illegal hotels and commercial establishments had came to the fore during the hearing of a Criminal Appeal, in which the affidavits filed by the  Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh had pointed out the menace of growing illegal commercial establishments.

The Court expressed concern that drug menace is one of the serious problem in the society and it was alarmed with the sizeable increase in the charas seizures by NCB from the State as per the figures and details furnished by the NCB.  

The Court observed that as per reports, there is a organised cultivation of cannabis in the higher reaches in Kullu District, in the Sub Division of Kullu, Sainj Valley and there is wild growth of cannabis in Chamba, Kangra, Upper Shimla and areas adjoining to Uttrakhand, but situation in Kullu-Manali Valley is alarming and despite sanction of considerable funds for destruction of illicit cannabis, situation is very distressing.

The destruction campaigns are merely on paper and nothing has been done on ground level by the NCB or State Police for curbing drug menace in the State as there are such mind boggling figures with regard to seizure of contraband by NCB. Though the Court observed that the NCB is not sufficiently equipped to handle the drug menace.

The High Court in its earlier order had directed the Superintendent of Police Kullu as well as Zonal Director, Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh on October 25 to constitute Joint Task Force to raid all restaurants, hotels and dhabas in and around Kasol and Malana to stop illegal activities  related to drugs. The Joint Task Force was also directed to visit Malana village and ensure complete eradication of contraband and take action against people indulging in illegal trade of contrabands. 

The Court said that though situation in the entire State is quite alarming, but at present Village Malana appears to be the epicenter of drug menace and immediate steps are required to be taken by agencies concerned.

The Court wondered as to how rave parties were being allowed to be organised at Village Kasol and whether foreign nationals residing in and around Malana possess valid permission from Government of India or are illegally staying there.

The matter will come up for resumed hearing on December 7.