The Bombay High Court has observed that even in 21st-century girls are being treated as commodity and being used as a medium for financial benefits.

The Court made this observation while dealing with a bail plea of a woman accused of buying a one-year-old child.

We are in the 21st Century, still there are incidents wherein the girls are treated as commodity and they have been used as a medium for financial benefits. It is highly objectionable to the principles of morality and human rights that a girl of one year is being sold by the natural mother.”, Justice S. M. Modak observed.

In this case, the mother sold her one-year-old daughter to the bail applicant/woman. The prosecution case is that the bail applicant and her husband bought the child in return of the loan given to the mother of the child who was in dire need of money.

When they refused to give back the custody of the child even after repayment of the loan, the mother of the child was compelled to approach the police following which the bail applicant/woman was arrested.

Advocate Shailesh Chavan appeared for the bail applicant and APP .Y.Y.Dabke appeared for the Respondent-State

The Court noted that twice the accused woman attempted to secure a bail, however, she was not successful. The trial Judge refused bail for the reason that she was found with certain diaries mentioning about the advancing of loan. However, her husband and another co-accused were released on bail.

The Court also noted that now the child is with her parents.

The Court observed that “There is no need to detain the Applicant behind the bar till the conclusion of the trial. She is also having two minor children. Their welfare also needs to be considered.”

Accordingly, the Court granted bail to the woman-applicant.

Cause Title- Ashwini Sanjay Babar v. State

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