Why the Supreme Court framed a Victim Protection Plan for human trafficking survivors

📌 Summary:

• The Supreme Court framed a Victim Protection Plan for survivors of trafficking for commercial and sexual exploitation (CSE), holding that the existing legislative "vacuum seriously impairs the fundamental rights" of victims.
• The plan will operate until Parliament enacts a dedicated law on protection and rehabilitation of CSE victims.
• A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan stressed putting the victim "centre stage", treating victims as "agents in need of empowerment" rather than passive beings, and according them dignity.
• Significance: an instance of judicial law-making to fill a legislative gap, invoking fundamental rights (Article 21 — dignity) for a vulnerable group.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Judiciary — judicial activism / directions filling legislative vacuum; protection of vulnerable sections; Article 21). Also GS1/GS2 social-justice angle on trafficking and rehabilitation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Bench: Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.
• The plan covers victims of "commercial and sexual exploitation (CSE)" trafficking.
• It is interim — operative until Parliament legislates on victim protection and rehabilitation.

🔑 Key Term: Judicial law-making — courts issuing binding guidelines to fill a legislative vacuum (as in Vishaka), which remain in force until the legislature enacts a law.