Gauhati High Court Orders Completion Of Child Trafficking Trials In Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh Within 6 Months

The Gauhati High Court on June 20 issued a circular directing that the trial of all child trafficking cases pending in different Courts in Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh will be completed within a period of six months.

The circular was issued in terms of the Supreme Court's April 15 judgment in Pinki v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Anr. (2025 LiveLaw (SC) 424), wherein the Apex Court has directed all High Courts to call for necessary information on the status of pending trials relating to child trafficking and subsequently issue a circular for the completion of trial within six months and submit a report to the Supreme Court.

Thus the Circular issued by the high court states:

"In terms of judgment dated 15-04-2025 passed by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in Criminal Appeal No. 1927/2025 (Pinki Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr.), the Hon'ble Gauhati High Court has been pleased to direct that the trial of all child trafficking cases pending in different Courts in the States of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh be completed within a period of 6 (six) months from the date of issuance of this Circular. This Circular shall come into effect immediately". 

Notably, the Supreme Court has directed for the implementation of the suggestions made in the study conducted by Bharatiya Institute of Research and Development (BIRD) on human trafficking by all States and High Courts. As per the BIRD's report, law enforcement officials should treat cases of missing children as abduction or trafficking until proven otherwise, as per the Supreme Court's directions issued in 2013.

The Supreme Court directed all the High Courts across the country to call for the necessary information as regards the status of the pending trials relating to child trafficking.

Once each of the High Courts is able to collect the necessary data as regards the status of the trials, a circular thereafter shall be issued on its administrative side to all the concerned trial courts to complete the trials within a period of six months from the date of the circular and if need be, by conducting the trials on day-to-day basis.

Each of the High Courts shall thereafter forward a report to the Apex Court as regards the compliance of the directions contained in the circular.

Non-compliance of the said directions or any laxity of any nature in that regard on the part of any of the authorities shall be viewed very strictly and if need be, they shall be proceeded for contempt.

The Supreme Court directed that the matter shall be again heard in October 2025.

The Circular issued by the Gauhati High Court has been issued in terms of the above-mentioned directions passed by the Supreme Court and shall come into effect immediately i.e. June 20.

Click Here To Read/Download Circular