Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court today(August 11) sought a reply from the Union Government on what further steps have been taken to curb the menace of child trafficking, especially in Delhi, where the crime has become rampant. It has also asked for the current status of the number of child trafficking cases in Delhi.

"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. We would like to know the current status of the child trafficking cases so far as Delhi is concerned."

A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan was hearing criminal appeals filed against the orders of the Allahabad High Court granting bail to accused persons in the child trafficking cases. In April, the bench cancelled bail granted to 13 such accused persons by the Allahabad High Court. While it called the approach of the High Court 'callous for exercising discretion in granting bail,' it also questioned why the Uttar Pradesh Government did not seek cancellation of the bail orders.

The Court had passed some general directions, such as for the expedited hearing of such cases, and also sought data from the High Courts on the pending trials in child trafficking matters. These cases pertain to child trafficking rackets involving the kidnapping and selling of minor children. They were granted bail by the Allahabad High Court, considering that the accused persons were not named in the FIR; the name was disclosed by a co-accused, the victims were not recovered from their custody and parity with the other co-accused persons who have been granted bail.

While granting bail, the High Court imposed bail conditions that they would continue to appear before the trial court and not tamper with evidence or pressurise witnesses. However, most of them absconded. Subsequent to a petition filed before the Supreme Court, some of them were re-arrested, and their bail orders were cancelled.

When the matter came up today for hearing, Senior Advocate and amicus Aparna Bhat informed the Court that the High Court has released two accused persons in a child trafficking case. The Court then directed that it would like to see on what basis the bail was granted. It should be noted that one of the directions was that if an accused's whereabout is unknown or has been absconding, the trial court shall take steps immediately to secure their presence by issuing a non-bailable warrant.

"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."

The Court will now hear the matter on August 18.

Case Details: PINKI v THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH AND ANR.|MA 729/2025 in Crl.A. No. 1927/2025

Click Here To Read Order

Appearances: Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat for Appellants and Advocate Garvesh Kabra for State of Uttar Pradesh