Chennai: Girl rescued from sex racket: entire case transferred to CB-CID anti-trafficking cell

Chennai, Jan 6: Taking note of the gravity of the offence of a case of a girl rescued by CB-CID from a sex racket a year ago, the Madras High Court today transferred the entire case to the agency's Anti Trafficking Cell.

"The effective steps taken by CB-CID, Anti Trafficking Cell in securing the victim girl and the number of persons involved in abusing the child after she was kidnapped from home, we feel that it is a fit case to be transferred to CB-CID to investigate the crime," the division bench, comprising Justices R Sudhakar and Justice P N Prakash, said.

The bench gave the order on a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by the Child Welfare Committee, represented by its member Sheda Charles, which came up before it today.

Accordingly, the case was then transferred to the ATC, Chennai. The Inspector concerned was directed to hand over the case dairy and all connected records to the cell immediately.

The matter relates to the HCP filed to produce the 15- year-old girl who was in illegal custody of a commercial sex worker at Pulianthope area in North Chennai.

Police in their report today said a medical examination confirmed she was sexually abused and raped at the instigation of the sex worker, which has to be seriously probed on the basis of a complaint lodged on July 22, 2015.

The bench, which heard the matter in its chambers, directed CWC member Aspy Joyson, who was present, to take up the case of the victim, including the possibility of terminating the pregnancy after getting advice from the competent medical board and implementing the HC's orders and to be present in court on January 19.

The rescued girl had been sent by CWC for rehabilitation to an NGO --Madras Christian Council of Social Service (MCCSS) -- from where she went missing for five months.

After a HCP was filed, the girl returned and was produced in the court but was found to be five months pregnant. The bench, which today took up the issue of termination of the pregnancy, noted that Aspy Joyson had informed it she would take steps as per Juvenile Justice and Prevention of Children From Sexual Offences Act, including assessing the stage of pregnancy and other steps required to be taken in consultation with her parents, if any, and experts in the medical field and proceed with the matter.

It voiced concern over CWCs in the state, where vacancies had not been filled up, saying they had overun their tenure, affecting the working of the Committee. Filling up posts was of paramount importance, the HC said.

It asked Lalvena, Director, Department of Social Defense, who appeared in the court as per its earlier order, to apprise it of steps taken to fill up vacancies and to provide required infrastructure in all girls' and boys' homes. It then directed her to appear before it on Jan 19.

PTI