The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the growing number of child trafficking cases in India, highlighting the role of organised gangs operating across multiple states. The bench warned that without immediate and effective action by state governments and Union Territories, the situation could spiral out of control.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan emphasised that while the Court can monitor the situation, primary responsibility lies with state governments, their home departments, and police agencies. “As a court we can monitor, but ultimately the action has to be on the part of the state government, the police, and other agencies. Therefore, this is our humble request,” the judges said during the hearing of a plea.
The bench criticised several states and UTs for a “lackadaisical” approach in implementing a 2025 Supreme Court judgment aimed at dismantling organised trafficking networks. Justice Viswanathan noted that successful retrieval of trafficked children in some instances proves that the issue can be addressed, but administrative and political will remain insufficient.
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The 2025 verdict mandated key reforms, including the completion of trafficking-related trials within six months, strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), and improvement of investigation standards. It also directed the formation of state-level committees to monitor trafficking-prone areas and instructed authorities to treat missing children cases as trafficking unless proven otherwise.
During Wednesday’s hearing, the bench noted that Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Punjab had failed to file compliance reports in the prescribed format. While the home secretary of Madhya Pradesh apologised for the lapse, the Court granted a “final opportunity,” warning that continued non-compliance could result in states being officially branded as “defaulting.”
The Supreme Court further highlighted that at least 15 states are yet to constitute the mandated review committees. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on April 29, as the Court continues to push for a coordinated national response to tackle the menace of child trafficking.
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