The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to put into operation by December 1, 2016 an agency for investigating human trafficking cases across the nation. PTI reported the decision was taken to curb inter-state and international trafficking of girls for sexual exploitation. The Ministry of Home Affairs had favoured setting up an Organised Crimes Investigating Agency concerning human trafficking on the ground that many states are involved.

The apex court bench, headed by Justice AR Dave, also asked the Ministry of Women and Child Development to expedite the consultation process regarding a comprehensible legislation to deal with the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of victims of trafficking. Earlier the court had asked all states and union territories to provide details of FIRs lodged related to girl-child trafficking to the Ministry of Home Affairs.