The Supreme Court of India has revealed that more than 2,800 child trafficking cases are currently pending trial across courts in the country, raising serious concerns about delays in justice for victims.
The information was disclosed in a recent order citing data submitted by various high courts across India.
Tamil Nadu reports highest number of cases
According to the data presented before the court, 2,846 child trafficking cases are awaiting trial nationwide.
Among the states, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number with 748 pending cases.
Other states with significant case backlogs include:
- Jharkhand – 386 cases
- Delhi – 269 cases
- Rajasthan – 256 cases
- Assam – 191 cases
- Kerala – 118 cases
- Uttar Pradesh – 112 cases
- Maharashtra – 107 cases
- Karnataka – 67 cases
In the northeastern region, Meghalaya reported 15 pending cases, Arunachal Pradesh nine, while Manipur and Tripura reported three each.
Supreme Court warns against delays
A bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and K. V. Viswanathan expressed serious concern over the scale of the problem.
“Trafficking of children and infants is on a rampage,” the court observed in its order issued on February 26.
The bench warned that authorities would be held accountable for any failure to act.
“We will not spare anybody who fails to take action. Any lethargy on part of states and Union Territories will be taken very seriously,” the court said.
Directions issued for speedy trials
In April last year, the Supreme Court had directed all high courts to submit reports on pending child trafficking cases in lower courts under their jurisdiction.
The court also asked high courts to issue circulars instructing district courts to complete trials within six months.
Most high courts complied with the directive between June and September 2025.
However, the report from the Patna High Court is still awaited.
West Bengal saw significant drop in cases
The Calcutta High Court submitted two reports to the Supreme Court showing a sharp decline in pending cases.
An initial report filed in September 2025 recorded 1,317 cases, with Murshidabad district alone accounting for 1,156 cases.
However, a later report filed in December 2025 indicated that pendency had reduced to 227 cases, with Murshidabad reporting only 16 pending trials.
Case linked to trafficking network
The Supreme Court’s directions were issued during the hearing of a case from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh involving the disappearance of a one-year-old boy.
The investigation uncovered a multi-state child trafficking network, whose members allegedly confessed to selling the child.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 8, when the court is expected to review updates from all high courts.