Supreme Court Guidelines on Child Trafficking

In December 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued landmark guidelines directing courts to treat trafficked children as injured witnesses to ensure sensitive evidence appreciation.

Judicial Guidelines and Evidence Appreciation

• Courts must treat a trafficked child’s testimony as that of an injured witness with high credibility.
• Minor inconsistencies in a victim's account should not lead to the rejection of their sole testimony.
• Judges must remain sensitive to the socio-economic vulnerabilities of children from marginalized and distressed communities.
• The Court emphasized avoiding prejudicial assumptions based on a victim's lack of immediate protest during exploitation.
• Judicial processes must prioritize the prevention of secondary victimization by ensuring ....