New Delhi | September 7, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The Economic Times)
The Supreme Court has directed the Union, states and Union territories to establish the required special courts for narcotics cases and accelerate creation of additional courts handling National Investigation Agency prosecutions.
The government informed a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant that 449 courts were required for cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and 176 were functional. The Court referred in its direction to establishment of all required courts at the earliest and sought infrastructure action preferably within six weeks.
Eight new NIA courts have been created, taking the national total to 22. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu indicated that they would add three and two respectively, while Kerala, Assam, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir also reported requirements or planned additions.
The suo motu proceeding was initiated over prolonged trials. The Court has emphasised that faster disposal protects both accused persons and victims.
The source contains a discrepancy between the stated requirement of 449 NDPS courts and the order’s reference to 419. Authorities should reconcile the figure. Court creation must also include judges, prosecutors, staff, forensic capacity, digital systems and case-flow management to reduce pendency in practice.