Patna: Taking cognizance of a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that minor girls from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and other states are trafficked under the guise of employment in orchestra and dance groups in Bihar, the Patna high court has sought replies from the state govt and the chairman of the Bihar State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (BSCPCR).A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Partha Sarthy passed the order on Friday while hearing the petition filed by Just Right for Children (JRC), an association working for child rights, represented by Dhananjay Tingal. However, the order had not been uploaded to the high court website till Sunday evening.Senior advocate Sanjay Singh, appearing for the petitioner, cited recent cases in which minor girls — aged between 8 and 14 — were rescued after being lured or coerced into sexual exploitation under the guise of performance work. He submitted that although the police have been active in rescuing these children, they have been unable to dismantle the larger trafficking network that traps them.Singh argued that the core of the problem lies in the unregulated nature of orchestra and dance groups operating across Bihar and the alleged failure of the state’s labour department to monitor or restrict child labour in such entertainment outfits.The petition also calls for a complete ban on the employment of minors in orchestras and dance groups, including launda dance, a form of performance associated with men dressed as women or performed by eunuchs, particularly prevalent in western Bihar. The petitioner contended that such performances facilitate child trafficking and exploitation.The high court directed the state police to take stringent action against orchestra groups and those found engaging in or enabling trafficking of minors. It also granted two weeks to the respondents to file their affidavits in response to the petition.The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 25.
