The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the lower courts across the country to complete trials in child trafficking cases within six months.
The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan ordered the High Courts across the country to seek status report of child trafficking cases from lower courts and issue directions for completion of the same within six months. The lower courts were further directed to conduct a day-to-day trial in such cases.
The top court of the country further laid down extensive guidelines for the States to prevent child trafficking and deal with cases related to the offence.
While directing the States to implement the recommendations made by the Bench and the report submitted by the Bhartiya Institute at the earliest, the Apex Court warned that any laxity would be treated as contempt of court.
As a first step towards the prevention of child trafficking, the top court of the country directed the states to cancel the licence of a hospital, if a newborn was stolen from there.
The Bench made these observations on anticipatory bail petitions filed by the accused in a child trafficking case from Uttar Pradesh.
The Bench pulled up the Allahabad High Court and the State of Uttar Pradesh over their handling of the matter, stating that the ‘callous’ attitude of the Allahabad High Court led to the absconding of many accused in the matter.
These accused pose a serious threat to society. While granting bail to the accused, the High Court should have imposed a condition to mark their presence in police stations every week. Police lost track of all accused, it added, and listed the matter for further hearing on April 21.
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