Madras High Court Seeks Inquiry Into Allegations of Children Used for Begging and Possible Trafficking

The Madras High Court has issued notice to state authorities on a petition alleging that children used for begging at traffic signals may be victims of organised trafficking networks, with infants potentially being drugged to keep them unresponsive in hazardous public spaces. A Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan admitted the petition and called for a factual inquiry into what it described as a matter raising “serious concerns of child safety and exploitation.”

The petition highlights observations from Chennai’s arterial intersections where women — reportedly not the biological mothers of the infants they carry — approach vehicles while holding sedated babies. It alleges that these infants may be procured, trafficked, or hired by rackets that rely on children used for begging to evoke sympathy and generate income. The plea urges the Court to initiate a court-monitored investigation and to direct coordinated action across departments responsible for child protection, policing, and public health.

Acting on the plea, the Court has issued notice to the Public Health Secretary, Chennai Municipal Commissioner, Police Commissioner (Vepery), and the Child Welfare Board, signalling the seriousness with which it views allegations of trafficking disguised as street-level begging.

Petition Flags Drugging of Infants and Trafficking-In-Disguise

The petitioner asserts that the phenomenon of children used for begging is not incidental but organised, pointing to visual evidence of infants who appear unnaturally still or unresponsive in noisy, high-traffic environments. Such behaviour, the petition claims, may indicate the use of sedatives to keep babies docile and prevent crying, enabling faster movement between vehicles.

According to the plea, women intervening in traffic with infants on their arms have been observed at multiple locations in Chennai. The petition describes patterns that suggest that the women may not be acting independently but functioning as part of coordinated groups. “There is reasonable apprehension that the children being showcased are not their biological children,” the plea states, raising the spectre of trafficking networks that exploit the vulnerability of infants for financial gain.

The Court acknowledged that the allegations, if true, would amount to violations of multiple child protection statutes, including laws on trafficking, cruelty to minors, and endangerment of life and safety. The Bench noted that the plea warrants closer examination due to its implications for the welfare of infants who cannot voice distress or resist exploitation.

Judicial Scrutiny Extended to Multiple Government Departments

To assess the claims surrounding children used for begging, the Bench issued notice to several state agencies whose mandates intersect on the issue:

• Public Health Secretary, for examining possible drugging or sedation of infants.

• Chennai Municipal Commissioner, for addressing street-level enforcement and rehabilitation protocols.

• Commissioner of Police (Vepery), for initiating inquiry into suspected trafficking or organised begging operations.

• Child Welfare Board, for undertaking child protection assessments and rescue operations if necessary.

The Court stated that a coordinated response is essential due to the multi-layered nature of the problem, which spans law enforcement, child rights, health services, and municipal regulation. The notice marks the beginning of a fact-finding process that could lead to further judicial directions.

Organised Begging and Child Exploitation: A Persistent Urban Concern

The issue of children used for begging has long troubled urban centres in India. Child rights groups have repeatedly warned that begging at signals is often the visible face of networks that recruit, rent, or traffic minors. Infants, in particular, are vulnerable because they can be transported easily and used to elicit higher donations.

Studies and anecdotal reports have indicated:

• Infants may be sedated to make them appear calm and appealing.

• Children are sometimes rotated among adults within networks.

• Biological parents may not be involved, raising concerns of kidnapping or trafficking.

• Earnings from begging are not retained by the children or caregivers but by organisers operating behind the scenes.

The petition before the Madras High Court underscores these concerns and seeks systemic redress rather than piecemeal enforcement.

Court Recognises Risk to Infants Exposed to Traffic Environments

In admitting the petition, the Bench highlighted the immediate danger posed to children used for begging, particularly infants carried between lanes of heavy traffic. These children are exposed to:

• Vehicle emissions from close proximity

• High-decibel noise levels

• Risk of physical injury or accidents

• Extreme heat from sun exposure on asphalt surfaces

The Court noted that these conditions by themselves constitute endangerment. Combined with allegations of forced sedation, the situation “warrants urgent attention to prevent lasting harm.”

Possible Drugging Raises Public Health and Criminal Law Questions

One of the most alarming aspects of the petition is its claim that infants may be given sedatives to keep them in a subdued state for long hours. If substantiated, this would have serious public health implications and could qualify as:

• Administering harmful substances to minors

• Cruelty under child protection laws

• An act facilitating trafficking or exploitation

The Court’s decision to put the Public Health Department on notice reflects the need for expert medical inquiry, including possible examination of rescued children for signs of chemical sedation.

Child Welfare Board Directed to Assess Vulnerability and Rescue Mechanisms

By notifying the Child Welfare Board, the Court has signalled that any inquiry into children used for begging must incorporate child rights protocols, rescue operations, and rehabilitation services. The Board is legally mandated to:

• Identify at-risk or trafficked children

• Conduct welfare assessments

• Provide interim care in shelters

• Prevent re-victimisation

Should evidence emerge confirming the petitioner’s claims, the Board may be required to intervene directly, including removing children from exploitative environments.

Police Tasked With Investigating Trafficking and Organised Rackets

The notice to the Police Commissioner (Vepery) reflects judicial concern that the problem may run deeper than individual acts of begging. Law enforcement has been directed to examine whether the situation involves:

• Trafficking networks

• Child renting or forced labour

• Criminal gangs using minors for organised begging

• Abduction or sale of infants

The Court’s remarks suggest that if the allegations of coordinated exploitation prove correct, criminal prosecution under anti-trafficking statutes may follow.

Municipal Authorities Asked to Review Enforcement on City Streets

Urban enforcement is a critical component of the problem because children used for begging often appear in municipal spaces where local authorities oversee traffic regulation, hawker policies, and public safety.

The Court’s notice to the Chennai Municipal Commissioner indicates an expectation that the city administration will:

• Map hotspots where child begging is prevalent

• Coordinate with police on rescue operations

• Strengthen monitoring at intersections

• Develop protocols for reporting and responding to suspected exploitation

Municipal bodies often form the first line of observation in street-level child protection issues, making their involvement essential.

Earlier High Court Observations on Need for Rules to Curb Child Begging

Recent reporting indicates that the Madras High Court has previously urged the state to frame policies to curb the use of children used for begging. The Court has noted that begging involving minors reflects gaps in rehabilitation schemes, enforcement, and inter-departmental coordination.

The present case builds on these earlier concerns and directs attention to possible criminal exploitation masquerading as poverty-driven begging.

Judicial Recognition of Trafficking Masked as Begging

A notable aspect of the Court’s order is its recognition that begging can serve as a front for more serious crimes. The Bench acknowledged that the petition raises “serious concerns of trafficking-in-disguise,” a phrase that reflects the growing understanding among courts and child rights authorities that begging is often linked to criminal exploitation.

By issuing notices and seeking a factual report, the Court has opened the door to a broader inquiry into whether Chennai’s streets are being used as sites of systematic child exploitation.

What Happens Next

The state authorities have been asked to respond to the Court’s notice with factual details and action taken. Their submissions may include:

• Preliminary findings from field inspections

• Data on rescue interventions

• Verification of the identities of children used for begging

• Medical assessments, if any

• Actionable steps to curb trafficking and exploitation

Depending on the responses, the Court may issue further directions, appoint a monitoring committee, or order a specialised investigation.

Conclusion

The Madras High Court’s decision to examine allegations of children used for begging marks a significant step in judicial scrutiny of urban child exploitation. By acknowledging the possibility of trafficking, drugging of infants, and coordinated begging operations, the Court has brought renewed attention to the vulnerabilities of children who remain invisible in everyday traffic landscapes.

Its notices to multiple government departments reflect a holistic approach to child protection—one that recognises the interplay between policing, health, municipal governance, and welfare systems. The coming weeks will reveal the state’s response and the extent to which the inquiry uncovers systemic issues behind the distressing presence of infants and children at city intersections.