The Supreme Court of India directed the formulation of a practical, time-bound, and uniform Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to effectively combat human trafficking cases across the country. The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan emphasised that the SOP must be actionable at the local police station level rather than a theoretical or academic exercise. The Court constituted a Core Committee comprising former IPS officer P.M. Nair, Ministry of Home Affairs Director Veerendra Kumar Mishra, and Additional Solicitor General S.D. Sanjay (as Convenor and Coordinator) to develop this practical anti-trafficking framework. The Supreme Court warned several states for failing to respond in the matter concerning human trafficking and missing persons, and cautioned Directors General of Police (DGPs) of defaulting states to file personally affirmed affidavits by April 16, 2026, failing which they must be personally present before the Court. The Court made clear it was seeking an approach that can be "put into place right away at the local Police Station level" rather than hypothetical frameworks. Human trafficking is a severe crime involving forced labour, sexual exploitation, and organ trafficking, affecting millions especially women and children. India has the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) as key legislative tools, but implementation at the ground level remains inconsistent. The Supreme Court's intervention seeks to bridge this gap through a nationally uniform, operationally ready SOP that local police can implement immediately. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 21, 2026.