Calling child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation a “deeply disturbing reality”, the Supreme Court on Friday issued detailed guidelines on how courts should evaluate evidence in such cases. The Bench observed that these offences undermine the dignity and bodily integrity of children and violate the State’s constitutional promise to safeguard them.
The Court highlighted that victims, especially those from economically or socially disadvantaged backgrounds, face compounded vulnerabilities that demand a careful and empathetic judicial approach. It noted that trafficking networks often function as organised and fragmented systems, deliberately concealing their interconnections, which may prevent victims from narrating the full sequence of events.
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The Supreme Court cautioned lower courts against doubting a victim’s testimony due to delays, inconsistencies, or reluctance to speak. Recognising the trauma involved in recounting sexual exploitation, the Court said minor victims must not be treated as accomplices. Instead, their evidence should be assessed with sensitivity and given the same credibility as that of an injured witness.
