Children Used For Begging: Madras High Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Possible Trafficking, Drugging Of Infants

The bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan admitted a plea by an advocate and issued notice to the Secretary (Department of Public Health), Corporation Commissioner, Commissioner of Police (Vepery), Child Welfare Board, the Secretary (Department of Health), and the Traffic Police Commissioner's Office.

In his plea, the petitioner said that in many places, like traffic signals, beggars were seen having children in their hands. He stated that in most cases, these children were seen sleeping and had no resemblance to the woman carrying them.

The petitioner further stated that these children slept through even intense heat and traffic jams. The petitioner thus raised doubts on whether these children were being drugged and used for begging. The petitioner also suggested that a DNA test be conducted to see if the children and the mothers were actually connected. The petitioner alleged that there were possibilities that the children were being stolen or obtained from child trafficking gangs or were being rented using a price.

The petitioner further submitted that since the children were constantly sleeping, there was a chance that they were not being breastfed, and there was no chance of them growing up well nourished. The petitioner also submitted that if the children were being administered drugs, there was a possibility that they would grow up as antisocial elements in the future.

Thus, stating that the education and health of the kids were being involved, the petitioner sought for an inquiry by the appropriate authorities.

Case Title: RS Tamilvendan v. The Secretary and Others

Case No: WP No. 46210 of 2025