Kerala High Court Says Police Have Full Power to Stop Drug Abuse

The Kerala High Court has ruled that police forces possess full authority to take all necessary steps to free the state from drugs and substance abuse. A division bench consisting of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Basant Balaji heard an appeal brought by the state government. The government challenged a single-bench order that had set aside police notices placing restrictions on DJ parties and other events at star hotels, specifically issued to the Kochi five-star hotel Radisson Blu.

Court Clarification

The court made it clear that the previous directions from the Single Bench do not stop police from keeping proper watch and attention on all activities linked to drug and substance abuse. The judges remarked that strict regulation may work better than a total ban. They also stressed that police should act as partners in daily life to keep society peaceful rather than being seen as enemies.

Arguments

Additional Advocate General Muhammed Shah told the court that the police notices did not aim to stop bars from running until 3 a.m. Instead, the rules target uncontrolled parties where people allegedly use drugs openly. Lawyer Anand Kalyanakrishnan, appearing for Radisson Blu, argued that the hotel takes full responsibility for its events and carefully checks every customer for drugs and other substances. The court scheduled the matter for a detailed hearing on November 16.

Context

Courts frequently deal with balancing public safety measures like drug control against the business operations of hotels and event organizers. Police agencies often issue specific event guidelines during festive seasons or late-night celebrations to curb illegal substances while allowing lawful hospitality businesses to function. Legal disputes in such cases usually center on finding the right boundary between law enforcement duties and commercial freedom.