In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside bail orders for 13 accused in an organized inter-state child trafficking racket involving kidnapping and commercial sale of minor children. The High Court had granted bail without applying due diligence to settle bail principles, ignoring the gravity of the offence (which carries 14 years to life imprisonment), the involvement of vulnerable children, recovery of trafficked children from the accused's custody, and the subsequent absconding of accused persons. The Court held that while personal liberty is fundamental, it must be balanced against societal interests and protection of vulnerable children from organized crime. The Court critically noted the High Court's failure to impose stringent conditions, particularly weekly police reporting, that would have prevented absconding. The judgment emphasizes that organized child trafficking is a grave crime requiring rigorous prosecution and directs all High Courts and States to implement comprehensive anti-trafficking measures and complete such trials within six months.
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