The High Court of Bombay at Goa has raised serious concerns regarding the trafficking and systematic exploitation of children brought into the state from Maharashtra and Karnataka. A Division Bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar described the situation as a "large-scale human tragedy".
The observations were made during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Moses Pinto regarding child begging in Goa. Court proceedings disclosed that children, primarily from Dharashiv, Pandharpur, and Mumbai, are being forced into street begging, illegal beach massages, and other unauthorised operations across Goa’s tourist areas.
An affidavit filed by the North Goa Child Welfare Committee (CWC) revealed that 23 children were rescued during 2024-25. Stressing full compliance with the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the bench directed the Dharashiv CWC to submit concrete documentation showing post-repatriation welfare steps, including access to schooling and proper nutrition.
Maharashtra’s legal counsel assured complete cooperation, and the court set the next hearing for October 13.
