Supreme Court directs states, UTs to notify anti-trafficking units as police stations

DIMAPUR — The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union territories to notify Anti-Human Trafficking Units (ATHUs) as police stations at the earliest, calling the measure necessary to implement its victim-protection plan for survivors of human trafficking.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan asked the Home departments of all states and UTs to issue the necessary notifications in accordance with law. It also directed the Union government to take up the matter with the states and ensure compliance.

The direction came during a hearing in Prajwala v. Union of India, in which the court was reviewing the implementation of its May 29 judgement on the trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation.

The bench observed that several other directions issued in the judgement had not been fully implemented across states and UTs. These include notifying recognised welfare institutions under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, preparing state-wide lists of eligible social welfare workers, and designating police and government nodal officers to oversee implementation.

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The court asserted that these measures were necessary for the victim-protection plan to be implemented on the ground. It directed the Union government to collect information from stakeholders on the steps taken and submit a fresh status report before the next hearing, scheduled for December 14.

In its May judgement, the court had framed a comprehensive Victim Protection Plan under Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution. The guidelines cover prevention, rescue, post-rescue care, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficking survivors, and are to remain in force until Parliament enacts a law on the subject.