Child trafficking ‘very rampant’ in Delhi: SC

Noting that child trafficking is “very rampant” in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to submit a detailed report at the earliest on measures taken to curb the menace.

“We would like to know from the Union what further steps have been taken to curb this crime, which is very rampant nowadays in the city of Delhi. Let such a report be filed at the earliest,” a Bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala said, adding a copy of the said report be provided to Amicus Curiae Aparna Bhat for her perusal.

The Bench also sought to know the current status of child trafficking cases in Delhi. “We are informed that recently few accused persons charged with the offence of child trafficking came to be released by the court below. We would like to have a look at those bail orders,” it said, posting the matter for further hearing on August 18.

Noting that the situation appeared to have gone from bad to worse, the Supreme Court had on April 21 asked the Delhi Police to take necessary steps to arrest an accused behind a children trafficking racket in the national capital.

“The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse…You have to find these missing children at any cost and arrest the kingpin,” it had told a Delhi Police Inspector probing a case of trafficking of several newborns in the Dwarka area of Delhi.

The Bench directed the police station concerned to take all necessary steps to arrest gang leader Puja and trace the three missing infants. “You never know where these children will land up. In the case of a girl child, you know where she lands… Unfortunately, parents of the infants seem to have sold off their own children,” it had said.

Taking a serious view of interstate child trafficking rackets, the Supreme Court had on April 15 cancelled the bail granted to 13 accused in three cases lodged at Varanasi, saying the society’s cry for justice can’t be trivialised.

“The cry of the collective (society) for justice, its desire for peace and harmony and its necessity for security cannot be allowed to be trivialised. The life of an individual living in a society governed by the rule of law has to be regulated and such regulations which are the source in law sub-serve the social balance and function as a significant instrument for protection of human rights and security of the collective,” Justice Pardiwala had said.

The top court had also asked high courts to issue directions to lower courts to complete trials in child trafficking cases in six months. If a newborn was stolen from a hospital, the first step to be taken was to cancel the licence of the hospital concerned, it had commented.