In Brief
A two-judge bench considered a challenge to a 2009 Central Government notification under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act that defined drug quantities based on aggregate weight of mixtures rather than pure drug content. The appellants argued this notification was ultra vires and undermined the Court's prior decision requiring pure drug content to be considered for sentencing. The respondents contended the notification was valid and a clarification of existing law. The Court, finding the issues involved significant legal questions of public importance including whether the notification unlawfully redefines offences and punishment parameters, directed referral to a three-judge bench rather than deciding at the two-judge level.
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