The Supreme Court has instructed Delhi Police to make every effort to rescue six missing children, emphasizing that child traffickers must be held accountable for their actions. The court expressed grave concern over child trafficking, describing such criminal networks as a significant danger to society.

Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan took up the matter suo motu after a news report revealed the sale of newborn babies for amounts ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

The court made it clear, stating, "Find these six missing children, no matter where they are." It stressed the importance of bringing those involved in buying and selling newborns to justice, calling all of them "accused" and labeling them as a "big threat to society."

Justice Pardiwala emphasized the severe nature of child trafficking, calling it "the most dangerous" type of crime, particularly referring to gangs in Delhi involved in the illegal trade of newborns. The court has now ordered the Delhi Police to target the leaders of these trafficking operations.

Reports suggest that a large gang operates across Delhi and its neighboring areas, specializing in the illegal sale of newborn babies, with many of the traffickers being habitual offenders. The court also noted that it had previously criticized the Allahabad High Court for granting bail to 13 individuals charged in similar trafficking cases. The bail orders were criticized as "callous," and the court has since canceled them, reiterating that the accused pose a serious threat to public safety.

Justice Pardiwala further remarked that child traffickers are more dangerous than murderers. He explained that while murderers may have specific motives, child traffickers commit their crimes repeatedly, making them even more dangerous.

In response to Delhi Police’s report that some children were sold by their parents rather than being kidnapped, the court declared that if the children are found and their parents refuse to reclaim them, the state will take responsibility for their care.

The court also suggested that hospitals be held accountable if a newborn is reported missing, recommending the immediate cancellation of the hospital’s license. It has issued detailed directives on addressing child trafficking, urging state governments to implement these measures promptly.

Additionally, the court instructed High Courts nationwide to review the status of pending child trafficking cases, warning that any failure to comply would be considered contempt of court.

Justice Pardiwala stressed the emotional toll on parents of missing children, contrasting the pain of loss with the anguish of knowing their child is at the mercy of trafficking gangs. "When a child dies, they are with the Almighty. But when they are lost, they are at the mercy of these criminals," he said.

India witnesses around 2,000 cases of child trafficking annually, with 2,250 such cases reported in 2022 alone, as per the National Crime Records Bureau. The majority of these cases were reported in states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Bihar.