Secunderabad, Sept.27 : The Telangana State Judicial Academy (TSJA), in technical partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM), hosted a one-day Judicial Colloquium on “Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour” on Saturday. The conference brought together 255 dignitaries, including members of the judiciary, senior police and administrative officials, public prosecutors, civil society representatives, technical experts, and survivors to formulate strategies for strengthening victim-centered responses and inter-agency convergence.
Delivering the inaugural address, Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court and Patron-in-Chief of TSJA, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, emphasized that eradicating human trafficking requires looking at the larger operational systemic picture rather than treating incidents in isolation.
High Court Judge and TSJA President, Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya, asserted that bonded labour has no place in a civilized society, stating that forcing individuals to work without wages or minimum pay violates basic human rights. Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy addressed the role of multi-departmental convergence, while TSJA Director (FAC) S.N. Sreedevi highlighted the critical interventions delivered by State Legal Services Authorities.
During the technical sessions, experts addressed investigative bottlenecks, evidence appreciation, child labour penalties, and post-rescue protocols. Ministry of Home Affairs Director Veerendra Mishra elaborated on modern dimensions of exploitation beyond conventional definitions, while Medchal-Malkajgiri Principal District Judge V. Bala Bhaskar Rao analyzed evidentiary challenges in trafficking trials.
High Court Judge Justice T. Madhavi Devi outlined remedial legal measures, while Shakti Secretary Ms. Dasari Harichandana and Telangana Police Academy Director Abhilasha Bisht stressed the need for trauma-informed policing, strict law enforcement, and establishing a unified data ecosystem to prevent re-trafficking.
Distinguished speakers also recounted poignant ground realities and practical challenges involved in rescuing victims trapped in generational debt. SERP CEO Divya Devarajan recalled her experience rescuing a five-year-old child from bonded labour during her tenure as a Sub-Collector in 2013, while Women Safety Wing In-charge DIG Viswajit Kampati and Tharuni Founder Mamatha Raguveer shared insights on enforcement and the urgent need for mandated trial timelines.
Concluding the sessions, Loretta Babu from IJM emphasized trauma-informed post-rescue care, repatriation, and connecting survivors with welfare schemes to ensure justice and prevent re-trafficking.
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