Budgam Court Orders Community Service for Drug Offender to Promote Constitutional Awareness

A Budgam trial court sentenced Riyaz Ahmad Sheikh, found high on drugs and guilty under Section 355 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for public misconduct, to distribute 200 pamphlets on citizens' Fundamental Duties.

Judicial Magistrate Nazia Hassan directed community service on May 5 under police supervision, with 50 pamphlets translated into Kashmiri and Urdu.

The court highlighted the convict’s ignorance of Article 51A, stressing the need for constitutional awareness.

Rejecting jail or fine, the court viewed community service as a rehabilitative measure to promote civic responsibility and public order in a participatory democracy.