Supreme Court Seeks Government’s Response on Child Trafficking
The Supreme Court of India has demanded a response from the Central government regarding a petition that calls for decisive action against organized criminal networks involved in the abduction and trafficking of children. This includes illegal adoption and various forms of exploitation, as highlighted in the case of Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India and Ors.
Chief Justice Leads the Bench
The Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, has issued a formal notice to the Union of India and other relevant authorities. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, representing the petitioners, argued that human trafficking has evolved into multiple exploitative practices, with child trafficking becoming increasingly prevalent.
Reference to Precedent Cases
Upadhyay referenced the Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in Pinky v. State of Uttar Pradesh to emphasize that children are being trafficked for purposes such as sexual exploitation, forced labor, begging, petty crimes, armed conflict, child marriage, and child labor. He further raised concerns about children being abducted for forced religious conversion.
Concerns Over Rising Trafficking for Forced Labor
The advocate pointed out the alarming rise in trafficking for forced labor, stressing that current protections under the juvenile justice system are being misused to commit grave offenses. Upadhyay requested that his plea be linked with an ongoing case where the Supreme Court is overseeing the registration of FIRs in instances of missing persons.
Current Measures and Future Directions
Justice V Mohana remarked on the existing governmental schemes like ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ and other initiatives aimed at tackling these issues. She noted that numerous directives have already been set forth and questioned the necessity of new directives on how to investigate kidnapping cases.
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Despite these remarks, the Court decided to issue a notice to the Centre, seeking further clarifications and actions.
The Supreme Court’s engagement with this plea underscores the critical need for a standardized investigative approach and enhanced institutional safeguards to combat child trafficking across India.
