NationalMonday, 1 June 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Supreme Court says POCSO can apply to under-18 trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation
The Supreme Court held that trafficking of a person below 18 for commercial sexual exploitation can be prosecuted under POCSO along with related penal laws.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In June 2026, a Supreme Court bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan held that trafficking of a person below 18 years for commercial sexual exploitation can be prosecuted under the POCSO Act, 2012, along with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
Key specifics
- POCSO Act, 2012 can be invoked when a child is trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.
- The bench named two judges: J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.
- Article 23 of the Constitution prohibits trafficking, begar and other forms of forced labour.
- The Court said consent of a victim, or of a child victim, does not matter if coercion, fraud or abuse of vulnerability is used.
- Related prosecution can also proceed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
Exam lens
Polity and law match-the-following, POCSO Act, 2012, Article 23, trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, and the Supreme Court’s June 2026 interpretation are the key MCQ points.