Delhi HC seeks police response on plea over girls rescued from trafficking

The Delhi High Court has sought police’s response on a plea alleging lapses in the custody transfer of girls rescued from a sexual exploitation racket in the capital.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notice to Delhi Police and other agencies on a plea filed by two NGOs alleging that police failed to produce the rescued girls before the Child Welfare Committee as required under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and they again landed in a hostile environment.

The high court, in its May 21 order, asked the authorities to file status reports within four weeks and posted the hearing on July 17.

The petition filed by NGOs, including Just Rights for Children Alliance and represented by advocate Prabhasahay Kaur, sought action against the authorities on the allegation of grave lapses in handling the custody of the girls rescued from a commercial sexual exploitation racket.

The counsel said on December 4 and December 12, 2024, the petitioners assisted the police authorities in conducting the raids to rescue the minor girls from the racket in Burari area and eight girls were rescued.

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The police authorities, it was alleged, failed to produce them before the Child Welfare Committee in violation of the juvenile and anti-trafficking laws.

The plea said the action of releasing the rescued minor girls without producing them before the Child Welfare Committee, violated the constitutional guarantee and mandatory provisions under the JJ Act and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and this violation may result in re-trafficking of the girls.

The petitioners took up the issue with the senior police officials, including the joint commissioner of police, but it didn’t translate into action.