Cancellation of identity documents to tighten noose against drug traffickers in J&K

Jammu, May 7: To give teeth to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s ongoing resolute fight against drug menace, J&K Home Department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cancellation of passports, Aadhaar and other crucial documents of accused or detenues under the NDPS Act, 1985 and the PITNDPS Act, 1988.

SOP is in consonance with the LG Sinha’s announcement, while commencing 100-day intensive campaign under “NashaMukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan” on April 11, 2026 from M A Stadium Jammu.

Greater Kashmir has tried to explain this exhaustive SOP for its readers in lucid terms with the backdrop whereunder it has been issued.

BRIEF BACKGROUNDER

On April 11, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had announced that under a new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) against drug traffickers, all their crucial documents including Aadhar, passports would be revoked besides the seizure of their assets and freezing of bank accounts.

In a stern warning, LG Sinha had stated that drug smugglers’ assets would be seized, ringleaders prosecuted and punishment would be delivered swiftly. “The administration will confiscate all property and freeze bank accounts of all those involved. This crackdown against drug smugglers will echo through generations,” he said.

Referring to the new Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), LG Sinha stated, “We have issued a new SoP against drug traffickers. Under this SoP, we have taken a crucial decision to revoke passports, driving licenses, Aadhaar numbers and arms licenses of smugglers involved in drug trafficking. If they are absconding, a Look Out Circular will be issued immediately. Additionally, their movable and immovable properties will be attached under the NDPS Act, bank accounts frozen and financial investigation will be launched.”

WHAT DOES THIS SOP COVER?

Common Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued for cancellation or suspension or withdrawal of Passport, Driving License, Arms License, Aadhaar Card, Contractor’s License, security and allotment of government accommodation in respect of accused or detenues under the NDPS Act, 1985 and the PITNDPS Act, 1988 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

This SOP aims to restrict the mobility; prevent concealment of identity; deny escape routes; debar from owning a weapon; denying contractor’s licence; denying secure accommodation and security and dismantle the support infrastructure of drug traffickers by ensuring that all government issued identity, travel, arms licence, contractor’s licence, secure accommodation, security and mobility documents of accused or detenues are cancelled, impounded or deactivated swiftly in accordance with law.

RATIONALE BEHIND SOP

The menace of drug trafficking continues to pose a grave threat to public health, social order and the security of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the drug traffickers habitually exploit government-issued identity documents, licences, security, secure accommodation and travel documents to evade law enforcement, flee justice and facilitate their criminal networks.

Hence, it has been found expedient and necessary by the J&K Home Department to lay down a uniform, time-bound and legally sound Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“It will ensure the systematic and expeditious cancellation, impoundment, suspension and deactivation of Passport, Driving licence, Arms Licence, Aadhaar Card, Contractor’s Licence, Government accommodation and Government provided security, of persons accused of drug related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and persons detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988,” Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti has explained.

FROM WHICH LEGAL PROVISIONS SOP TO DRAW POWERS

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued for strict compliance by all concerned for effective exercise of relevant powers and functions under the Passports Act, 1967; the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988; the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016; the Arms Act 1959; J&K Registration of Contractors Act, 1956; the NDPS Act, 1985 and the PITNDPS Act, 1988 besides all other enabling provisions of law.

WHO WILL ENSURE ITS APPLICABILITY

This SOP will require all Investigating Officers (IOs), Superintendents of Police, Senior Superintendents of Police, District Magistrates, Regional Passport Officers, Regional Transport Officers and Assistant Regional Transport Officers, UIDAI Regional Office, the Bureau of Immigration, Director Estates, Head of Security Wing of J&K Police, Head of the Department of Contractors’ Registration and all other concerned agencies to take appropriate necessary steps in accordance with applicable legal provisions.

WHEN TO COME IN FORCE

This SOP has come into force from the date of issuance of the government order i.e., April 17, 2026. It will remain in force until superseded or amended.

WHICH LEGAL PROVISIONS TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL BASIS FOR ACTION UNDER THIS SOP

PASSPORT CANCELLATION OR REVOCATION

Sec 6(2)(a)/(b), Passports Act, 1967 will be invoked for refusal or revocation of passport where the accused or detenue’s presence abroad is detrimental to sovereignty, security or friendly relations of India.

Sec. 6(2)(f) will be used for refusal of passport where the accused is subject to warrant, summons or prohibitory order of a competent court.

Sec. 10(3)(a)/(c) will be invoked for impoundment or revocation in the interest of sovereignty, security or general public interest.

Sec 10(3)(b) would be used for revocation where a passport was obtained by suppression of material facts.

Sec 10A will be invoked for emergency suspension pending formal revocation proceedings.

Sec 6(2)(e) & 10(3)(h) will be used for NDPS conviction constituting offences involving moral turpitude, triggering revocation.

DRIVING LICENCE

Sec 19(1)(b), MV Act, 1988 will be invoked for cancellation of driving licence where holder is addicted to narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.

Sec. 19(1)(c) will be used for cancellation of licence where motor vehicle was used in commission of a cognizable NDPS offence.

Sec 19(1)(e) will be invoked for cancellation where driving licence was obtained by fraud or concealment of narcotic addiction.

Sec 20 and 22 will be invoked for court-ordered disqualification or revocation on conviction for NDPS offences.

AADHAAR

Regulation 28(1)(f) of Aadhaar (Enrolment & Update) Regulations, 2016 will be invoked for deactivation of Aadhaar by UIDAI.

ARMS LICENCE

Section 17(3) of Arms Act 1959 will be used for cancellation of Arms Licence.

PITNDPS

Sec 3, PITNDPS Act, 1988 will be invoked for detention order of competent authority. It actually constitutes a triggering event for all document actions.

CONTRACTOR’S LICENCE

Under Section 5(1) of J&K Registration of Contractors Act, 1956 and Rule 5(1)(v) read with Rule 5(6) of J&K Registration of Contractors Rules, 1991, the Head of the Department, which has registered the contractor, will cancel the registration of the licence.

GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION

Ground for cancellation would be a report from IO or SP or SSP concerned for involvement in any drugs related crime.

Director Estates or IGP Security, J&K or District Magistrates, as the case may be, will cancel the government accommodation immediately on receipt of a report from the concerned.

SECURITY PROVIDED BY THE POLICE

Ground for withdrawal of security would be a report from IO or SP or SSP concerned for involvement in any drugs related crime.

IGP Security, J&K will withdraw the security immediately.

WHEN THIS SOP COMES INTO VOGUE

This SOP will be mandatorily operated upon the occurrence of registration of a First Information Report (FIR) for offences punishable under Sections 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27A or 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, where the alleged quantity is equal to or exceeds the “commercial quantity” as defined under the Act.

Other events the occurrence of which will invite the operation of this SOP will include:

Issuance of a Detention Order under Section 3 of the PITNDPS Act, 1988 by the competent authority.

Receipt of a Court Warrant, Remand Order or Prohibitory Departure Order from a competent Magistrate or Sessions Court against an NDPS accused.

Receipt of specific intelligence or input from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), J&K Police or any other Central or State Law Enforcement Agency identifying a named accused who is a resident of or is present in J&K.

Conviction by a trial court for any offence under the NDPS Act, 1985.

Receipt of a direction from the High Court of J&K &Ladakh or the Supreme Court of India in relation to any NDPS accused.

NODAL OFFICERS AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

The DGP, J&K will designate Inspector General of Police, Crime J&K as the State-Level NDPS Nodal Officer for coordination and oversight of this SOP.

The IGP Kashmir and Jammu will designate NDPS Nodal Officer not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police.

Each SSP and SP will designate a District-Level NDPS Nodal Officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The State-Level Nodal Officer will maintain regular coordination with the NCB Regional Office (North Zone), the Bureau of Immigration (MHA), the RPO Srinagar, the RPO Jammu, the UIDAI Regional Office (Chandigarh), Transport Department, Contractors Registration Authority, IGP Security, Director Estates and District Magistrates.

All communications with the RPO, UIDAI and BoI will be marked to the State-Level Nodal Officer for records.

WHO WILL DO WHAT?

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORITIES WITH TIMELINES

With regard to roles and responsibilities of different authorities, it has been specified that the Investigating Officer (IO) will prepare a case summary dossier; draft all applications and forwarding letters and update the case diary at each stage within the first 3 days.

Superintendent of Police (SP) or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will review and approve applications; sign forwarding letters to RPO, RTO or ARTO, UIDAI, BoI, Contractors Registration Authority, Director Estates, District Magistrates and Security Headquarters and ensure compliance monitoring within the stipulated period of day 2–5.

IGP Crime J&K will maintain NDPS Document Cancellation Register; coordinate Inter-agency communication; ensure timely follow-up; submit monthly progress reports to DGP. It will be an ongoing affair.

Regional Passport Officer, Srinagar and Jammu will receive application; issue acknowledgment; consider issue of impoundment or suspension or revocation order within 7 working days.

The Licencing Authority (RTO or ARTO) will issue show-cause notice; hear the accused; consider passing of cancellation order; update SARATHI portal within 15 working days.

UIDAI Regional Office will receive a formal law enforcement complaint; consider processing a deactivation request; flag Aadhaar for authentication alerts. Timeline will be as per UIDAI Regulations.

The Bureau of Immigration will consider issuance of and operationalisation of Look Out Circular; alert all airports; confirm LOC activation in writing on Day 1.

Public Prosecutor will move court for court-ordered revocation of Driving Licence under Sections 20/22 MV Act at conviction stage; assist IO with legal process at trial stage.

District Magistrate will coordinate with RPO and RTO in respect of PITNDPS detenues; forward detention orders to all concerned agencies within 48 hours of issuance (of detention order) and consider taking action for cancellation of Arms Licence within 48 hours of detention order.

DGP, J&K will review monthly progress reports; issue administrative directions and ensure SOP compliance across all Districts and Police Units. He will have to undertake a monthly review on these accounts.