New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- The Supreme Court on Friday held that cases of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation involving children are "deeply disturbing" and strikes at the root of the state's constitutional guarantee to safeguard every child against exploitation as it directed courts below to discard technicalities and appreciate a child victim's statement with more "sensitivity" and "realism".

The strong observations came while the court was confronted with the shocking facts of how a minor girl aged 16 was trafficked in Karnataka, sold to a couple who engaged her in prostitution and facilitated persons to have sexual intercourse with her till a police team raided the place and rescued her in 2010. Both the trial court and Karnata...