Drug Court faces problems due to lack of separate budget: Judiciary

Drug Court is facing problems due to the lack of a separate budget, says Judiciary Media and Public Relation Unit.

Director of Judiciary Media and Public Relation Unit Ahmed Majid said at a press conference today that the part of this year’s judicial branch budget needs to be reallocated to Drug Court.

“The only option we have now with regard to budget is to use part of the budget assigned to the judicial branch for Drug Court. A lot of money has to be reallocated to operate a court. We are facing a lot of problems due to this,” Majid said.

He said that the budget is pre-assigned for certain projects in the judicial branch, which means that some of those projects have to be forgone in order to operate the Drug Court.

“We are in discussion with relevant ministries to resolve this issue,” Majid said.

He also said the Drug Court is to operate in the building formerly used by NSPA, and Rf 1.5 million is required for its renovation. Necessary documents are being submitted to relevant authorities in order to achieve this.

Manager of Drug Court Judge Mahaz Ali Zahir said that the administrative section of the Drug Court has commenced work today with thirteen employees at M. Fanhiya building, where the former Juvenile Court was located.

He said that about 40 employees are required as administrative staff at the Drug Court, and Department of Judicial Administration is working on the employment of these people.

The Drug Court regulation was published in the government gazette today.

Mahaz said that Drug Court Judges hope to complete the transfer of relevant cases from Criminal and Juvenile Courts to Drug Court this week.

He said that the preparation of forms and other administrative documents necessary for the operation of the Drug Court have commenced today.

“We have commenced work to prepare forms, international best practice manuals, standard operating procedures, and other necessary documents,” Mahaz said.