Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority, on Saturday exhorted people to stand up against drug abuse, failing which they will repent badly. He noted that Himachal Pradesh has been severely affected, with 1,714 NDPS cases registered this year.

While addressing a massive legal literacy camp organised jointly by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, here today in Hamirpur he said that if we all do not stand up against the ever-growing drug abuse problem, in the future, all systems of our families, society, and country will collapse, and nothing will be left.

Justice Thakur said that the time has come for introspection to eradicate the serious problem of drug abuse. "Even if our families are safe from it today, our children may fall prey to it in the future. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to the value-based education of children. We must begin the change within ourselves and our families."

He stated that to eradicate drug addiction, every citizen must make every efforts at their own level, like the "squirrel in the Ramayana."

Justice Virendra Singh stated that drug addiction is not just a crime; it also gives rise to many other crimes. "Stopping it is beyond the government's power alone. Even the Devbhoomi (land of the gods), Himachal Pradesh, has been severely affected. So far this year, 1,714 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act in the state. Even in the state's smallest, most literate, aware, and politically important district, 84 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act this year. In light of this serious problem in Himachal, the State Legal Services Authority, under the direction of NALSA, has taken a special initiative and decided to organize large legal literacy camps at the district level," he said.

Justice Zia Lal Bhardwaj also shared his views on the problem of drug addiction and environmental protection. He said that "if we interfere too much with nature, it also reminds us of its power from time to time. Therefore, we need to pay special attention to environmental protection along with development."

Earlier, District and Sessions Judge and Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, Bhuvnesh Awasthi, welcomed the chief guest, other guests, and participants of the camp and highlighted its main objectives. CMO Dr. Praveen Chaudhary and Him Academy School student Ananya provided detailed information on the problem of drug addiction.