Punjab to set up 35 special drug courts, 52,000 cases pending for trial

Neeraj Bali Chandigarh, Oct 31 - The Bhagwant Mann government on Saturday approved the setting up of 35 exclusive special courts to expedite the proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, as over 52,000 drug-related cases are pending in the courts of Punjab and the trials take an average of eight years to complete. The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The move comes amid mounting pressure on the state's judicial system as the number of fresh drug cases continues to outnumber their disposal. Punjab sees about 20,000 cases under…