The Centre is giving finishing touches to a proposal for having a dedicated agency to tackle organised crimes relating to trafficking of women and girls. Sharing the information with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the Government said that an announcement in this regard will be made soon. The Ministry of Home Affairs conducted a meeting with all stakeholders in this regard on October 7, the Government added.
The response of Centre came on an affidavit filed in response to a PIl filed by NGO Prajwala seeking enforcement of strict measures to curb trafficking of women and to strike at the root of these organised syndicates who allow women and girls to be kidnapped and sold for this purpose.
The affidavit said, “There is an urgent need for setting up an Organised Crime Investigation Agency (OCIA) for investigation of cases of human trafficking and other organized crime cases.” While the Centre will have to consult the States with regard to implementing the proposal, the agency will initially be funded out of the Nirbhaya fund set apart by the Centre in the wake of the brutal gangrape of a Delhi girl. The issue was discussed by the Centre with State representatives in a meeting called by Central Advisory Committee of Ministry of Women and Child Development comprising representatives of all states and Union Territories on September 3, 2015
The Centre also plans to amend certain provisions in existing statutes concerning Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 and Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act and plans to have a comprehensive law to tackle all aspects of human trafficking.
A bench of Justices AR Dave, Madan B lokur and Kurian Joseph directed the Centre to state what action has been taken with regard to the proposals and inform it by November 19. Meanwhile, the court also asked the States and the UTs to supply information on number of cases filed under the 1956 Act between 2014 and September 30, 2015 and provide status of investigation in these cases.
The court directed the Cabinet Secretary to form a Standing Committee at the earliest involving all relevant Ministries, departments to suggest a comprehensive law to tackle human trafficking.