NDPS Act: Supreme Court explains law on presence of gazetted officer during search

The Supreme Court explained the legal framework for searches under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, particularly focusing on the presence of a gazetted officer during a search. The ruling clarified that while the presence of a gazetted officer is required for certain searches under the NDPS Act, it is not mandatory in all cases. The court stated that the presence of the officer is necessary when required by the law to ensure transparency and fairness in the search process. However, the absence of a gazetted officer does not automatically invalidate the search if the evidence obtained is found to be credible and the process followed was lawful.