Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal (File photo)
Cornered by the opposition parties over failure to curb drugs menace in the state, the Punjab government in a significant move aimed at checking the entry of drug addicts in the state government services, today made the clearance of a 'dope test' mandatory during the recruitment process for posts in all government departments.
A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while presiding over a high level meeting to review the arrangements for de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts in the state.
The Chief Minister said that necessary amendments must be made in the existing rules to incorporate provisions to ensure that any person selected for government service must clear the 'dope test' during his medical test. He said that if reports of 'dope tests' of any aspirant was found to be negative, then he/she must be debarred from joining the government service.
Mr. Badal added that this would not only encourage the youth to shun drugs but it would also ensure that healthy officers join the service in the future.
"This is the need of the hour so as to combat the menace of drugs in a more effective manner," he said.