Rising Child Trafficking A Serious Concern In Jharkhand: Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad While Launching JHALSA Calendar, Annual Magazine

Jharkhand High Court judge Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad who is the Executive Chairman of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) released the JHALSA Activity Calendar–2026 and the JHALSA Annual Magazine “Nyay Dagar” (Special Issue–2025) on Friday (January 17). 

The programme, held at the JHALSA Auditorium, Nyay Sadan, saw the participation of DLSA Secretaries across Jharkhand through virtual mode, along with panel advocates, mediators, legal aid defence counsels, para legal volunteers and other dignitaries. The welcome address was delivered by Kumari Ranjana Asthana, Member Secretary JHALSA, the vote of thanks was given by Abhishek Kumar, Deputy Registrar-cum-Deputy Secretary, JHALSA.

In his keynote address, Justice Prasad expressed serious concern over the increasing cases of missing children and child trafficking in Jharkhand, and emphasised the need for proper care and protection of children in modern society. He stressed that Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) deployed at police stations, hospitals and other institutions must remain vigilant so that prompt action can be taken immediately upon receiving information regarding missing children.

He further stated that although most trafficked children have been rescued pursuant to judicial orders and directions, they face significant challenges in sustaining their livelihoods after rescue. He suggested that such children should be linked with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) so that they do not have to migrate outside their home State again, and urged the Principal District and Sessions Judges-cum-Chairpersons of the DLSAs to ensure that recovered children receive necessary social support.

Justice Prasad also noted that JHALSA had undertaken several activities in 2025, and said that new initiatives have been included in the Activity Calendar 2026, which sets out the schedule for National Lok Adalats, Monthly Lok Adalats, and legal awareness and outreach programmes to be carried out by the District Legal Services Authorities.