Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court has declared that bhaang (cannibis) is not prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and therefore, does not carry any punishment under the Act.The court of Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, while hearing an appeal filed by one Sunil Singh, cancelled the order of conviction passed against him to undergo seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 50,000 as he was found in possession of bhaang which is not prohibited under the Act.Singh was arrested by the police on Sept 17, 2000 from Chaibasa bus stand by the Jamshedpur police. He was convicted by a special court in Jamshedpur on July 3, 2009. He was, however, later let off on bail by the high court.The high court observed in its order passed on June 30 that the Act has not categorised bhang in the schedule of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It cannot be compared with ‘ganja’ (marijuana) which has been added in the schedule of drugs in the Act. While discussing the case at hand, the HC observed that there is no scientific proof produced by the prosecution to show that Singh was in possession of ganja. The court also observed that the state govt has also not passed any resolution with regards to any prohibition on the possession and consumption of bhang.HC on Bokaro missing girlThe Jharkhand high court on Thursday added the Central Bureau of Investigation as a party in a case to trace the whereabouts of a minor girl missing since 2020 from Bokaro. The court was hearing a petition filed by the mother of the girl who was stated that her daughter was missing since Oct 16, 2020.The investigation was earlier handed over to the CID, which has also failed to locate the girl.Advocates meetThe Advocates Association, Jharkhand HC on Thursday held a meeting of the governing body to discuss the inclusion of names of lawyers from outside the state to be elevated as judges of the high court. The association has been clamouring that the HC should not recommend names of such lawyers to become judges who practise outside the state.