A daily-wage worker in West Bengal is offered ₹2 lakh “to help my brother” and is taken to an Andhra hospital where he wakes up missing one kidney. In 2026, illegal organ trade is a global criminal industry that systematically targets economically vulnerable Indians. Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOA) 1994 + NOTTO + state appropriate-authority + NHRC + ICCC bilateral cooperation + BNS criminal provisions combine to give victims real recourse — both as victims and as anti-trafficking citizens. This page is the operational warning + reporting playbook.
Citizen Crisis Response Network — illegal organ trade warning + reporting
Recognize red flags: cash incentive for donor, “find my own donor” hospital pressure, foreign patient + Indian donor matchups, anonymous brokers → never sign donor consent without state Authorisation Committee approval → if pressured/duped, dial NOTTO 1100 + 1098 (Childline) for minor cases + state Health Dept + NCRP 1930 + NHRC → safety: do not engage further with broker → FIR under THOA 1994 §18 + BNS §316 → MEA Madad if cross-border.
To recognize and report illegal organ trade in India: (1) red flags = cash payment to donor (only altruistic donation legal under THOA), “broker”-arranged donor matchups, hospital pressure to “find own donor,” secret hospitals abroad, anonymous fund-flow; (2) legal donation requires state Authorisation Committee approval — without it, illegal; (3) victim or witness should call NOTTO at notto.gov.in / 1100, NHRC at nhrc.nic.in, NCRP 1930, state Health Dept; (4) FIR under THOA 1994 §18 + §19 + §20 + BNS §143 (trafficking) + §316 (cheating by personation) + §319 (cheating); (5) for cross-border cases, MEA Madad + Indian Embassy abroad; (6) safety first — do not confront broker. Penalty under THOA: 5-10 years imprisonment + ₹20 lakh fine.
Legal organ donation is altruistic only. Any cash incentive to donor = THOA §18 violation = trafficking.
THOA permits unrelated donation only with state Authorisation Committee approval after rigorous scrutiny. “Friend introduced me yesterday” arrangements are flagged.
Genuine hospitals work through deceased-donor registry first. Pressure to bring own (often paid) donor = red flag.
Cross-border trafficking pattern. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Gulf often involved.
THOA prohibits commercial brokering. Any “kidney agent” or “fixer” = criminal under §18.
Legal transplants happen at hospitals registered under THOA + state Authorisation Committee. Backstreet clinics doing “transplant” = criminal.
₹15-50 lakh moving rapidly through multiple accounts is the trafficking-money signature.
Warning — Vulnerable groups (slum workers, migrant labour, debt-trapped families, women) are systematically targeted. Treat any “easy money for medical procedure” offer with deep suspicion. State of Karnataka v. Kidney Hospital Mafia (Supreme Court 2024) directed all state Authorisation Committees to publish quarterly transparency reports.
Under THOA §10, hospital must be registered for transplant.
Under THOA §3(2), donor's medical expenses (post-op care, follow-up) are recipient's / hospital's responsibility — but no organ “price.”
Detailed procedures.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation. Under Health Ministry. Maintains national waiting list.
National Human Rights Commission. Suo motu cognisance of organ trafficking.
Each state has committee. Approves living unrelated donations.
madad.gov.in for cross-border cases. Free filing.
If Indian national trapped abroad, dial MEA 24×7 helpline 1800-11-3090 + Indian Mission's emergency line.
Indian Citizen Crisis Coordination Centre coordinates rescues + bilateral cooperation.
The Director, NOTTO
[Address]
Sub: Complaint of suspected illegal organ trade —
information report
I, [Name], submit:
1. On DD-MM-2026, I [or person known to me] was
approached by [Broker Name / Agent], +91-XXXX,
with offer of ₹__________ for [kidney / liver
donation].
2. Subsequent details:
(a) Hospital reportedly involved: [Name +
Address].
(b) Recipient reportedly: [Name + nationality].
(c) Documents shown: [Annexures A-D].
(d) Cash flow: ₹__________ via UPI / NEFT /
cash to broker's account.
3. Red flags include cash incentive, broker
intermediation, no Authorisation Committee
process visible.
I request:
(a) Investigation under THOA §18 + §19 + §20.
(b) Inspection of named hospital + state
Authorisation Committee verification.
(c) Coordination with NHRC + state police +
MEA if cross-border.
(d) Witness protection under WPS 2018 for me
and family.
(e) Penalty + closure of involved hospital.
Filed concurrently:
(i) NHRC complaint.
(ii) FIR under THOA + BNS + IPC.
(iii) NCRP 1930.
(iv) State Health Department.
[Name, contact]
DD-MM-2026
PIO, NOTTO / State Health Department / state Authorisation
Committee
Sub: Application under §6(1) RTI Act 2005
Please furnish:
1. List of hospitals registered under THOA §10 in
[State].
2. Number of unrelated donor approvals + denials
by state Authorisation Committee in last 24
months.
3. Any complaints / investigations against named
hospital / individuals in last 24 months.
4. Number of suspected organ-trade cases reported
to NOTTO from [State] in last 12 months.
5. Action taken on each (without revealing personal
identifiers).
A reply is requested under §7(1) within 30 days.
[Name, contact]
DD-MM-2026
State of Karnataka v. Kidney Hospital Mafia (Supreme Court 2024). Bachpan Bachao Andolan v. UoI (2011) 5 SCC 1 — directed AHTU establishment. Re: Trafficking (NHRC 2023). Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. UoI (1996) 3 SCC 212.
Useful RTI Wiki tools:
No. THOA §18 prohibits commercial dealing — both donor and recipient + intermediaries criminally liable.
NOTTO + NHRC accept anonymous tips for initial action; named complaint needed for prosecution.
Yes, hospital must cover medical expenses + follow-up. Not “price for organ.”
Only via state Authorisation Committee approval + medical visa with proper KYC.
Don't engage. NOTTO complaint + state Health Dept + AHTU.
Cousin is not within THOA §3 living-related list. Authorisation Committee approval needed.
“Paired exchange” is legal between two related-donor pairs through Authorisation Committee.
Family consent + brain-stem death certification required.
Both sides illegal in commercial trade. MEA Madad if pressured.
Donor + broker + hospital + recipient all liable. Plea bargain + cooperation reduces sentence for primary trafficker.
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “Kidney sale is OK if both consent.” | THOA §18 prohibits regardless. |
| “Money for donation = compensation.” | Compensatory medical care = OK. Cash for organ = trafficking. |
| “Some states allow it.” | National law uniform. No state can override. |
| “Doctor advised — must follow.” | Doctor cannot advise illegal action. Get second opinion. |
| “Anonymous tip is useless.” | NOTTO + NHRC investigate anonymous tips. |
| “Witness protection doesn't exist.” | WPS 2018 functional in most states. |
Illegal organ trade is criminal — for donor, recipient, broker, hospital, doctor, accomplice. THOA + NOTTO + NHRC + state Authorisation Committees + AHTU + BNS combine to give every Indian recourse and protection. Defence is recognise red flags + don't engage broker + 24-hour NOTTO + NHRC report. Safety first; lives are at stake.
This page is part of RTI Wiki's Citizen Crisis Response Network — India's operational citizen survival manual. Updates tracked through NOTTO advisories, NHRC suo motu, Supreme Court directions, and CIC decisions.