Guwahati | June, 2025
Taking a decisive step against the persistent delays in child trafficking cases, the Gauhati High Court has ordered that all pending trials involving child trafficking in Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh must be concluded within a period of six months. The move is in compliance with a binding directive from the Supreme Court of India, issued earlier this year.
Swift Justice in Sensitive Cases
The High Court’s directive comes amid rising concern over the growing backlog of human trafficking trials, many of which involve vulnerable child victims. Recognizing the urgent need for timely justice, the court has asked all trial courts within its jurisdiction to prioritize such cases.
The Chief Justice-led administrative order instructs:
“District and Sessions Judges must ensure that all child trafficking cases are listed for regular hearing and brought to finality no later than December 20, 2025.”
Triggered by Supreme Court’s Mandate
This order follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in Pinki v. State of Uttar Pradesh (April 2025), which called upon all High Courts to take proactive steps to:
• Identify and categorize pending child trafficking cases;
• Create a time-bound plan for their disposal;
• Submit progress reports back to the apex court.
The Supreme Court emphasized that justice delayed in such cases often amounts to justice denied, especially for children who are survivors of exploitation.
Broader Impact
With this directive:
• All special courts handling POCSO and trafficking offences in the North-Eastern region must now treat these cases as priority hearings.
• The High Court Registry is expected to monitor compliance district-wise, and periodic updates will be shared with the Supreme Court.
• The order aims to not only speed up trials but also strengthen witness protection and minimize trauma for survivors through quicker resolution.
Case Details
• Case Name: Pinki v. State of Uttar Pradesh
