📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harvinder Chandigarh
Crime
Punjab & Haryana HC flags rise in immigration-linked human trafficking
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 01:38 PM
👁 2
The Punjab and Haryana High Court warned that trafficking of people under the pretext of immigration is becoming a growing menace across the region.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has described human trafficking that masquerades as immigration assistance as a "growing menace". In a recent hearing, the bench highlighted a noticeable uptick in cases where traffickers exploit migration aspirations to lure victims. The court emphasized that such deceptive practices not only endanger vulnerable individuals but also strain law‑enforcement resources.
Judges urged state police and immigration officials to intensify monitoring of suspicious recruitment agencies and cross‑border movements. They called for stricter enforcement of existing anti‑trafficking statutes and better coordination between Punjab, Haryana and central authorities.
The remarks come amid broader concerns about organized crime networks using fake immigration promises to traffic men, women and children. While the court did not announce specific penalties, it signalled that future violations could attract harsher judicial scrutiny.
Judges urged state police and immigration officials to intensify monitoring of suspicious recruitment agencies and cross‑border movements. They called for stricter enforcement of existing anti‑trafficking statutes and better coordination between Punjab, Haryana and central authorities.
The remarks come amid broader concerns about organized crime networks using fake immigration promises to traffic men, women and children. While the court did not announce specific penalties, it signalled that future violations could attract harsher judicial scrutiny.