Governor Kataria sets Sept 30 deadline to eliminate illicit drug trade in Chandigarh, warns SHOs of action
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 13, 2026: Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has set September 30 as the deadline for the Chandigarh Police and UT Administration to completely eliminate the illicit drug trade in the Union Territory, warning that Station House Officers (SHOs) and field-level police personnel will face administrative action if illegal drug sales continue in their jurisdictions beyond the cut-off date.
Addressing the first anniversary function of the Senior Journalists Forum at the Law Auditorium in Sector 37, Chandigarh, Kataria said the administration would adopt a tougher approach to tackling the drug network and would not spare officials found responsible for allowing illegal activities to continue.
He said illegal drug businesses could not operate without some degree of official or local-level connivance and stressed the need to dismantle any nexus between criminals and officials.
Kataria said the UT Administration would deploy secret surveillance teams and independent informers to verify the ground situation and identify those involved in the illegal drug trade.
Emphasising that the fight against drugs could not be left to the police alone, the Governor called for collective action by society to protect young people from substance abuse. Referring to Punjab’s history of sacrifices and the unity displayed by communities during recent floods, he urged people to come together to prevent drug abuse among the youth.
Kataria also stressed the need to focus on rehabilitation rather than treating drug-affected youth only through enforcement. He suggested greater emphasis on sports, skill development and employment opportunities through the private sector to help young people rebuild their lives.
Calling for greater public participation in governance, Kataria referred to his weekly Janta Darbars held every Wednesday, where citizens can directly raise their grievances.
On the role of the media, Kataria said journalism was essential for a prosperous society and urged journalists to remain unbiased, work with positive intent and fearlessly highlight administrative and political shortcomings.
Addressing the gathering, Ramesh Vinayak, Executive Editor of Hindustan Times, said print media continued to enjoy a high degree of public trust despite the growing influence of social media and changing patterns of news consumption.
He also spoke about increasing political pressure on media organisations and urged journalists to remain transparent and impartial while discharging their responsibilities. He called for greater unity among journalists to address concerns facing the profession.
Senior journalists Jagtar Singh, Harish Manav and other media veterans also shared their views at the event.
Responding to demands raised by the forum, Kataria said journalists were already covered under various national health schemes but offered to examine individual cases involving special or emergency medical needs.
On the demand for a dedicated building for the forum, he said Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines restricted direct allotment of land in the Union Territory. However, he suggested that the forum could submit a proposal for repurposing an existing unused government building.
The event was attended by Senior Journalists Forum patron Sukhdev Singh, president Jagtar Singh Sidhu, chairman A.S. Prashar, general secretary Kewal Bharti, treasurer Surinder Singh Garoa, vice-president P.J.S. Trehan and senior journalist Nitin Jain, among others.
During the function, Kataria felicitated prominent personalities from healthcare and academia for their contributions to society. Those honoured included Prof. (Dr.) Ravneet Kaur, Director Principal, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh; Prof. (Dr.) Yash Paul Sharma of the Department of Cardiology, PGIMER; Dr. Ravi Gupta, Chairman and Head of Orthopaedics, Paras Hospital, Panchkula; and Prof. (Dr.) Harshinder Kaur, Professor of Paediatric Surgery at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and a writer and social worker.
Among those honoured from the academic sector were Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University; Dr. Zora Singh, Chancellor, Desh Bhagat University; and Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Singh, President, Desh Bhagat University AMERICAS.
The programme concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony and a Malwai Giddha and Bhangra performance by senior citizens led by Pritam Rupal.