New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday revoked the bail granted by the Allahabad High Court to three individuals accused in a child trafficking case, sharply criticizing both the state judiciary and the Uttar Pradesh government for their careless handling of the matter.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan stated that the high court’s casual approach to granting bail led to the accused disappearing, despite them posing a severe threat to society. “At the very least, the court should have required the accused to report to the police weekly. Because that wasn’t done, authorities lost track of them,” the bench remarked.
The Supreme Court also urged parents to remain alert to protect their children, emphasizing that relying solely on police and authorities isn’t sufficient. “When a child dies, they rest with the Almighty. But when trafficked, they remain at the mercy of criminal gangs,” the court observed, as quoted by Bar and Bench.
Addressing the broader issue, the apex court directed all state governments and high courts to ensure that child trafficking cases are monitored and trials completed in a time-bound manner. The directive followed the court’s review of a Times of India report detailing the trafficking of newborns.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court issued detailed instructions for law enforcement to report on their efforts to dismantle trafficking networks, both within and outside Delhi. The court criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for its inadequate response and for failing to appeal the high court’s bail order, calling the state’s approach “deeply disappointing.”
The specific case under review involved a baby that had been stolen and sold to a couple desperate for a male child. The court remarked that paying Rs 4 lakh for a child known to be stolen is inexcusable and highlights the gravity of the crime.
Consequently, the Supreme Court cancelled the bail for the accused and ordered high courts nationwide to instruct subordinate courts to conclude trials in child trafficking cases within six months.
The bench further recommended that state governments study the findings of the Bhartiya Institute report and implement its proposals without delay. It also ordered that hospitals be held accountable for newborn thefts. “If a newborn is stolen from a hospital, the license of that hospital should be immediately suspended,” the court said.