AAP Govt Proposes Night Courts To Handle Trafficking Cases

The recent Rohini ashram case, in which the ashram founder allegedly kept several women and child inmates locked up, has firmly put the focus on human trafficking. To tackle the issue, the Aam Admi Party led Delhi government has planned to open night courts. A draft policy on rehabilitation and combating trafficking of women and children has recommended setting up night courts to provide fast-track justice in such cases.

Apart from the night courts facility, the AAP government has also suggested the idea of setting up corpus funds and video conferencing. This will help survivors narrate their ordeal without having to be physically present in the court.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has sent out the draft to the departments and stakeholders for review. The initiative focuses on re-examining the process of licensing mechanism of all spa centres, massage parlours, beauty parlours and other such outlets in the city, which have come under the radar for trafficking.

The initiative also looks at providing legal aid to the survivors to come out against their offenders.

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The government's Social Welfare Department has also asked the Women and Child department about their opinion by next month.

"Once we receive suggestions and objections from all stakeholders, we will finalize the draft and send it to the Cabinet. The government is working on a comprehensive action plan considering the seriousness of the issue," said a senior government official.

"We also plan to have necessary legal reforms be introduced in the policy for ensuring effective and speedy justice in order to prevent keeping the victims in police custody at night. The policy will also ensure police protection of NGOs, social workers of the advisory board and government functionaries in red light and high-risk areas," an official

The policy will cover human trafficking issue from all directions rescue, prevention, repatriation, education, health care, and economic empowerment.

It has recognized Delhi as the centrepoint for this issue as traffickers bring the victims from all parts of the country and from bordering countries to the national capital.

"We also plan to have necessary legal reforms be introduced in the policy for ensuring effective and speedy justice in order to prevent keeping the victims in police custody at night. The policy will also ensure police protection of NGOs, social workers of the advisory board and government functionaries in red light and high-risk areas," the official said, DNA reported.

It is also planning to set up family counselling centres in high-risk areas and redlight districts.

Under this policy, the government strives to create a corpus funds for providing shelter and immediate relief to the victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including those housed in a protective home. It will also form committees at state and district level to tackle this issue.

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