SC asks NALSA to file report on child trafficking

The Supreme Court today asked the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to file its report on measures which can be adopted to curb child trafficking and prostitution and ensure the rehabilitation of victims.
A three-judge bench, headed Justice A R Dave, agreed to the submission of senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for NGO 'Prajwala,' that states are not doing enough to curb child trafficking.
The bench, also comprising justices Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, however, did not pass a "drastic order" as prayed for by Dave that chief secretaries of states be asked to appear in person to apprise it about steps taken so far.

"Unless the bench issues contempt (notice), nothing moves. The executive simply does not work," he said.
The court, which asked NALSA to file its report within four weeks, has posted the 2004 PIL for hearing on August 25.
The court had earlier expressed annoyance over the Centre moving at a slow pace in coordinating with state governments on curbing child trafficking and prostitution.

The court had asked the government to respond to the suggestions of 'Prajwala' seeking creation of "Victim Protection Protocol" for rescued survivors of commercial sexual exploitation who were victims of serious forms of sexual slavery.
The NGO had said there was a need to have a multi- disciplinary, national anti-trafficking Board on the lines of Narcotics Control Board, which would coordinate with all agencies engaged in prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and re- integration in addition to prosecution.

It had also proposed measures for pre-rescue, rescue and post-rescue stages of rehabilitation of commercially and sexually-exploited women and children.
The court had in 1990 asked all states to form advisory committees to make suggestions for eradicating prostitution.
It had asked state governments and the union territories to direct their law-enforcing authorities to take appropriate and speedy action under existing laws to eradicate child prostitution "without giving room for any complaint of remissness or culpable indifference".