Chennai, Jul 28 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Tuesday granted two more weeks to the Tamil Nadu government to file a report explaining the steps taken to eradicate drug peddling.

A division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice V M Velumani passed the interim order after Additional Public Prosecutor Prathap Kumar, representing the Tamil Nadu DGP, sought more time to file the report as sought by the court in its previous hearing.

Also Read | France Calls For UN-Led Observer Mission to Probe China's Treatment of Uyghurs: Live News Breaking And Coronavirus Updates on July 28, 2020.

Kumar claimed there were some practical difficulties in obtaining required information due to the COVID-19 situation.

Recording the submissions, the court granted two more weeks to file the report.

Also Read | Earthquake in Mizoram; 4.4 Magnitude Tremors Felt Close to Champhai, 24th Quake to Jolt The State In Last 6 Weeks.

The bench while hearing the matter observed that there was "a clear collusion" between the police and drug peddlers across the country.

Hearing a habeas corpus plea moved against detention of a drug peddler under the Goondas Act, the bench had on July 16 directed the Central and the state governments to file a detailed report explaining the steps taken to eradicate drug peddling in the country.

The court had then observed that drug abuse that has already engulfed Punjab should not be permitted to spread to other states of the country, including Tamil Nadu.

It had then directed the governments to explain as to whether youngsters are involved in such peddling due to unemployment and as to whether such money is used for anti- national and terror activities.PTI CORR SS

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)