India's Supreme Court Orders New Strategy to Fight Drug Trafficking in Punjab

May 8, 2026, 20:33

Introduction

The Supreme Court has criticized the current methods used by the Punjab Police to fight drugs and has called for a major change in strategy to target high-level traffickers.

Main Body

A panel of judges, including Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, examined the effectiveness of state law enforcement. The Court argued that the Punjab Police have focused too much on arresting low-level dealers to gain public attention, while ignoring the powerful figures and main suppliers. To highlight the severity of this crisis, the judges mentioned a tragic case from Kapurthala, where a woman over sixty lost five sons to drug addiction. Furthermore, the Court emphasized the need for better cooperation between different agencies, suggesting that the central government may need to intervene to completely remove drugs from the region. The judges clarified that this federal help should be seen as a partnership rather than an interference in state affairs. To deal with the large number of pending legal cases, the Court promised to create specialized NDPS courts across the country to speed up the legal process. In response, Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay suggested creating a central agency to coordinate and monitor drug-related legal cases nationwide.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court has demanded a fundamental change in how drugs are fought, focusing on arresting top-level criminals and improving the legal system through specialized courts.

Learning

🚀 The 'Power-Shift' Upgrade

At an A2 level, you usually describe things simply: "The police arrest bad people." To reach B2, you need to describe how things are done and who is being targeted.

Look at this contrast from the text:

Low-level dealers $\rightarrow$ Small fish (easy to catch).
High-level traffickers $\rightarrow$ Big fish (the bosses).

💡 The "B2 Secret": Precise Nouns

Instead of using generic words like 'people' or 'things', B2 speakers use specific terminology to show authority.

Swap these A2 words for the B2 versions found in the text:

~~Bad people~~ $\rightarrow$ Traffickers / Criminals
~~Ways to do it~~ $\rightarrow$ Strategy / Methods
~~Help~~ $\rightarrow$ Intervention / Cooperation
~~Fix/Change~~ $\rightarrow$ Fundamental change

🛠️ Master the "Too Much / Not Enough" Logic

B2 English isn't just about vocabulary; it's about expressing criticism. The Court didn't just say the police are 'bad.' They used a specific logical structure:

"...focused too much on [X]... while ignoring [Y]."

Why this works: It shows a balance. You aren't just saying 'no'; you are explaining the mistake and the missing piece.

Try applying this logic to other life situations:

A2: "I study grammar but I don't speak."
B2: "I focus too much on grammar rules, while ignoring my speaking practice."

⚡ Quick Reference: The 'Formal' Bridge

A2 Word	B2 Professional Equivalent	Context from Article
Tell	Clarify	"The judges clarified..."
Speed up	Accelerate/Speed up	"...to speed up the legal process."
Part of	Interference	"...rather than an interference."

Vocabulary Learning

criticized (v.)

to express disapproval or point out faults in someone or something

Example:The Supreme Court criticized the current methods used by the Punjab Police.

intervene (v.)

to become involved in a situation in order to change what is happening

Example:The central government may need to intervene to completely remove drugs from the region.

interference (n.)

unwanted involvement or interference in something that is happening

Example:The judges said this federal help should be seen as a partnership rather than an interference in state affairs.

pending (adj.)

still waiting to be decided or finished

Example:To deal with the large number of pending legal cases, the Court promised to create specialized NDPS courts.

specialized (adj.)

designed for a particular purpose or use

Example:The Court promised to create specialized NDPS courts across the country.

fundamental (adj.)

basic or essential; forming the foundation

Example:The Supreme Court demanded a fundamental change in how drugs are fought.