Night courts proposed for trafficking victims

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government has planned to set up night courts to “prevent the holding of victims of trafficking in police custody” at night and provide them swift justice.

The move is a part of a draft policy on rehabilitation and combating trafficking of women and children. The government has sought suggestions on email at wcd@nic.in from citizens and stakeholders such as NGOs, lawyers and Delhi Commission for Women on the policy.

The policy also aims to support initiatives such as video conferencing to enable the victims to narrate their story without being present in the court.

The draft policy also mentions the introduction of corpus funds for their rehabilitation besides several other initiatives. It also talks about providing legal aid to the rescued victims to come out against their violators.

Identifying Delhi as a “destination area” for trafficking of women and children from various parts of the country, the proposed policy says that the state government shall have a comprehensive action plan covering all aspects.

“The government shall create funds/non-lapsable corpus funds for combating trafficking of women and children for their rehabilitation, repatriation, and for providing shelter and immediate relief to the victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including those housed in a protective home,” the proposed policy states. The policy mentions setting up of committees at state and district level besides antitrafficking squads in every district.