Supreme Court Slams Centre Over Delhi Child Trafficking

The rapid increase in child trafficking incidents in Delhi has led the Supreme Court to intervene. On Monday, the court directed the Central Government to submit a report within a week detailing the steps taken to prevent this crime. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed concern over this serious problem and pointed out that interstate gangs are spreading their networks outside Delhi. The court clearly said that the government should explain what measures it has taken to control this crime.

The court took suo motu cognizance of the matter and heard it with the assistance of senior advocate Aparna Bhatt. He sought copies of bail orders granted to two accused of child trafficking in Delhi. The bench clarified that they needed information about the current status of the investigation. They have been told that both the accused have been released on bail, and they will review these orders.

The hearing follows an April 21 order directing the police to intensify the search for a gang leader named ‘Puja’ and recover three sold infants. At that time, Inspector Vishvendra Chaudhary of Dwarka Special Staff had informed the court that the parents of the missing children could also possibly be involved in the sale. The court termed it a ‘big challenge’ for the investigation team and said that the situation of child trafficking was going from ‘bad to worse’. A Hindustan Times report of July 30 also exposed how children from poor families were being trafficked from villages and tribal areas to the rich in Delhi, indicating a deep and secret nexus.

Warning for parents

The court has given a serious warning to parents to be extremely cautious about their children. Even a little negligence can prove costly. The grief of a child’s death is different, but the pain of being a victim of trafficking is unbearable. In such cases, it is common for families to break up when they get caught in the trap of the gang.

Responsibility of hospitals and strict guidelines

This case is related to an important decision of the Supreme Court on April 15, in which the court expressed its deep concern over the trafficking of newborns in hospitals. The court directed that the hearing of such cases be completed within six months, the bail of 13 accused should be cancelled and the license of hospitals involved in trafficking should be suspended. The court clearly stated that when a woman gives birth to a child in a hospital, it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure the safety of the newborn.