Make agency against trafficking operational by December 1: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to take steps to set up Organised Crime Investigative Agency (OCIA) to curb trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation by September 30, 2016, and make it operational by December 1, next year.

An order from an apex court bench of Justice Anil R. Dave, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph came after the union Home Ministry spelt out the time required for making OCIA functional.

The court also gave six months to a committee set up by Women and Child Development Ministry under the chairmanship of its secretary on November 16 to draft a comprehensive legislation to address all aspect of trafficking.

On October 13, the apex court had directed the Cabinet Secretary to take steps vis-a-vis the committee.

With Wednesday's order, the apex court brought down curtains on a public interest litigation filed by a non-governmental organisation Prajwala in 2004.

The Standing Committee on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Sexual Exploitation, in its first meeting on September 30, decided to ask the apex court to set up the committee for framing a comprehensive legislation on trafficking of women and children.

The Central Advisory Committee functioning under the chairmanship of the ministry's secretary had advocated for the OCIA. Thereafter, the union Home Ministry was asked to work out a proposal on OCIA.