24 Jan 2009, NEW DELHI: The Delhi police commissioner on Friday escaped being called up for an explanation before the Delhi High Court after the chief justice rescinded his decision taken earlier in the day to summon him.

Slamming the police for not registering a case under appropriate sections of IPC regarding alleged human trafficking of maids by placement agencies, a bench comprising chief justice A P Shah and justice Sanjeev Khanna had in the morning ordered the top cop's personal appearance. However, by evening, the bench changed its mind after the police assurance that effective steps will be taken and an appropriate report will be given within a week.

"We were inclined to summon the commissioner and ask him to personally give directions and oversee probe in this case,'' the bench noted in its order, saying it is adjourning the matter till January 28.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, which alleged that placement agencies were responsible for illegal trafficking of girls and sought a direction to the state government for compulsory registration of all such agencies.

Appearing for the NGO, senior lawyer H S Phoolka alleged the girls were sometimes forced into prostitution and boys were forced into illegal activities. According to the NGO, early this month about 35 girls and four boys were rescued from various placement agencies in the Capital.

"Have you taken a legal advice before registering an FIR in a very serious case like this,'' HC sought to know on Friday from the DCP northwest, who was present in the court.

The bench failed to get a satisfactory response from the police and ticked off the cops for being "completely lackadaiscal.''

"It is apparent that police have not realised the sensitivity and efforts which have to be made to stem crime related to exploitation of children and females,'' the bench noted adding that how "Standard operating procedures prescribed by the government have been given a complete go bye.''

H S Phoolka submitted that the case also attracted various other sections of IPC like the charges of trafficking, kidnapping and exploitation of juveniles, whereas the police simply registered a case under section 406 of IPC (criminal breach of trust) at Saraswati Vihar police station.

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