Bombay HC ‘dismayed’ at Centre’s stand on appointment of trafficking police officers – Times of India

MUMBAI: Bombay high court has expressed its dismay at the Centre for seeking justification from the state government for appointing police officers as trafficking police officers under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni heard a petition by Rescue Foundation for implementation of provisions of the Act, 1956 including creation of anti-human trafficking cells and appointment of special officers under ITPA.
At the February 17, 2021 hearing, the judge noted that on April 11, 2018, the Centre’s advocate had informed that a proposal has to be moved by the state government for appointment of trafficking police officer (TPOs) for exercise of powers and discharge of functions as are exercisable by a special police officer under the act.
Thereafter on June 27, 2021, the state’s advocate informed that on October 26, 2020, the government has forwarded a proposal to the Centre to notify all assistant commissioners of police (ACPs), deputy superintendent of police (SPs) as well as deputy and assistant SPs as TPOs. Also, that the Centre was yet to convey its decision on the state’s proposal.
Centre’s advocate D P Singh said the state has been called upon to justify its proposal by a December 2, 2020 letter and a subsequent reminder.
“We are surprised that such a letter seeking justification could at all have been issued, particularly when the object of the act is noble, that appointment of trafficking police officers is required to be made to give effect to the provisions of the act, and that there was a judicial order of this court requiring the state to forward a proposal to the Union of India in this behalf,” the judges noted in their order.
“Dismayed at the stand of the Union of India”, the judges asked additional solicitor general Anil Singh to remain present. Singh assured the court that he “will look into the matter and that appropriate steps in the right direction would be taken within a period of two weeks.”