Delhi HC Seeks Police Response on Custody Lapses of Girls Rescued from Trafficking
Expressing displeasure over alleged lapses by the Delhi Police, the Delhi High Court has sought a response on the improper custody transfer of minor girls rescued from a commercial sexual exploitation racket in the Burari area.
A single-judge bench led by Justice Ravinder Dudeja was dealing with a plea filed by two NGOs alleging grave lapses committed by police authorities in handling the custody of girls (both minor and adult) rescued from the commercial sexual exploitation racket.
The High Court observed that police authorities had failed to produce the rescued girls before the Child Welfare Committee, in violation of juvenile and anti-trafficking laws, leaving them vulnerable to re-trafficking.
Issuing notice to the Delhi Police, the bench directed: “Let notices be also issued to respondent nos. 2, 7, 8 & 9, subject to petitioners taking requisite steps, returnable on 17.07.2025.”
The NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, represented by Advocate Prabhasahay Kaur, told the high court that they had assisted the police authorities in conducting raids to rescue minor girls from the commercial sexual exploitation racket in the Burari area, where eight girls were rescued.
The petitioners argued that the authorities failed to produce them before the Child Welfare Committee as required under Section 31 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
Despite follow-ups with the Joint Commissioner of Police and DCP, North District, the petitioner argued that no action has been taken to date. It also added that releasing rescued minor girls without producing them before the CWC violated constitutional guarantees and the mandatory provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Accordingly, the court directed the authorities to file their status reports within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on July 17.
Case title: Just Rights For Children Alliance & Anr v. State Of NCT Of Delhi