BOMBAY HC SEEKS DETAILS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAW

The Bombay High Court has recently stated, “Offences under the anti-human traffic law have social and cultural ramifications” while directing the Centre and Maharashtra government to file affidavits stating if the apparatus contemplated as per the legislation is functional.

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A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor heard a PIL filed by NGO Rescue Foundation’, claiming that the provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act are not being implemented by authorities.

The bench in its order noted that serious concerns have been raised in the PIL about a “not-sohappy situation” where offenders booked under the Act manage to escape the rigours of the law.

Previously, the bench was informed by the Central government in an affidavit that offenses pertaining to human trafficking for slavery and sexual exploitation under sections 370 & 370A of the IPC would be probed by the NIA as the crimes have inter-state and sometimes international connections.