(Prayer: This writ petition is filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India praying to Quashing the Impugned Memorandum dtd 01.04.2022(annx-d) bearing NO.CRM/MISSING/08/DCP(W)/2022 issued by the r3 as being unsustainable, arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional.)
Oral Order:
1. The Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:
“i. Issue a writ of Certiorari quashing the impugned Memorandum dated 01-04-2022 bearing No. CRM/Missing/08/DCP(W)/2022 (Annexure D) issued by the Respondent No. 3 as being unsustainable, arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional;
ii. Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to conduct a detailed investigation with due diligence pursuant to the complaint filed by the Petitioner regarding the "missing" status of Mr. Kumar, and thereafter file an appropriate status report about the whereabouts of Mr. Kumar and developments in the investigation process; and
iii. Pass such other order / orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including as to costs, in the interest of justice and equity.”
2. The grievance of the petitioner is that one Mr.Kumar, who is the cousin of the petitioner, had gone missing, in furtherance of which a complaint had been submitted and an FIR was registered on 15.06.2020. Thereafter, no progress having been made. In May 2024, it was informed to the petitioner that the FIR registered by the petitioner has been listed as dormant. And as such, no further investigation has been done. It is in that background that the petitioner had approached this Court seeking for the aforesaid relief.
3. After having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned AGA, this Court, vide its order dated 27.10.2025, called upon learned AGA to make her submission as to how an FIR has been labelled dormant when the missing person was still to be found. Thereafter, on 03.12.2025, it came to light that there are larger systemic issues and concerns in respect of the rising incidence of missing persons complaints and the adequacy of the response on the part of the State. It is in that view of the matter that on 03.12.2025, this Court passed the following order:
“ORAL ORDER
1. Learned AGA seeks for and is granted a week’s time to file objections as regards the investigation which has been carried out.
2. Before proceeding to consider the specific grievance placed before this Court, it becomes imperative to address the larger systemic concern repeatedly brought to the attention of this Court, namely, the rising incidence of missing-person complaints and the adequacy of the State’s institutional response. Missing-person cases, particularly those involving women and children, require the State to discharge an affirmative, non- delegable obligation to ensure not merely registration of complaints but also a prompt, structured, and scientifically sound investigative response.
3. Upon receipt of information disclosing the commission of a cognisable offence, including kidnapping, trafficking, abduction, or any circumstance indicative of criminality, the police are duty-bound to register a First Information Report forthwith. Missing-person complaints concerning women and children frequently disclose, or at the least strongly suggest, cognisable offences warranting immediate registration of an FIR. The absence of systematic data or inconsistent categorisation of missing-person cases makes it difficult for courts to evaluate whether such obligations have been discharged.
4. Every missing child must also be treated as a child in need of care and protection, and as such, the police must register an FIR without delay. Police are required to maintain and publish proper records, develop standard operating procedures, and ensure that missing-children cases are handled with utmost sensitivity and urgency. The present matter reveals that such a uniform, comprehensive, and transparent data-management system is still wanting, thereby impeding judicial oversight and hindering the formulation of policy responses in accordance with constitutional and statutory mandates.
5. Complaints relating to the disappearance of minors have to receive immediate attention, and effective coordination between agencies must be institutionalised rather than ad hoc. Transparency in data is foundational to accountability in action.
6. It is also significant to note that missing-person complaints cannot be treated as mere entries in police registers, for they often serve as early indicators of deeper criminal patterns, including trafficking networks, forced labour, sexual exploitation, or organised abduction, missing children may be victims of organised criminal activity, and that the State must proactively trace them using all available technological and forensic tools.
7. I’am therefore of the firm view that without a complete, structured, and verifiable dataset, it is not possible to assess the State’s compliance with its constitutional and statutory duties, nor to determine whether systemic shortcomings warrant remedial directions. Accordingly, detailed statistical information for the last five years (2020–2025) must be placed on record in a tabulated format to permit clarity, transparency, and effective judicial scrutiny.
8. Learned Additional Government Advocate is hereby directed to place on record comprehensive, complete, and duly verified statistics pertaining to all missing-person complaints for the period 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2025. The said data shall be structured in the following manner:
8.1. The total number of missing-person complaints registered each year shall be categorised separately as regards men, women, and children, thereby enabling the Court to ascertain gender and demographic specific trends.
8.2. Insofar as missing children are concerned, the data shall be further sub-categorised into male and female children and, wherever such information exists, stratified by age groups or age bands (such as 0–5, 6–12, 13–17), so that patterns of disappearance among vulnerable age groups may be clearly identified.
8.3. The number of complaints in which action has been initiated by the jurisdictional police shall be indicated, including registration of FIRs, search operations, issuance of alerts, referrals to specialised units, or other investigative steps.
8.4. The number of persons traced or recovered shall be set out year-wise and category-wise, together with the number of individuals who remain untraced as of the date of filing, thus enabling evaluation of the efficacy of the tracing mechanisms in place.
8.5. Any other data or material maintained by the State or its agencies in relation to missing persons shall be included, which may encompass the functioning of Missing-Person Desks, inter-district and inter-State coordination undertaken, utilisation of forensic and digital tools, and any systemic obstacles identified.
9. Re-list on 16.12.2025 at 2.30 P.M. for further hearing.
10. Registry is directed to furnish the copy of this order to the learned AGA.”
4. In pursuance of the said order, the State filed a report on the total number of missing persons under cover of Letter dated 06.01.2026, which reads as under:
“Government of Karnataka
(Police Department)
No: CRM-2/256/WP/2025 Office of the
Director General and
Inspector General of Police,
Karnataka State, Bengaluru
Dated: 06-01-2026
To,
The Advocate General,
Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka,
Bengaluru.
Sir,
Sub: Submission of Compliance Report in W.P. No. 30006/2024 (GM-Police) pending before the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka,
Bengaluru, in the case of Mahesh v/s State of Karnataka & Others.
Ref: Letter received from the Office of the Advocate General, Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru, dated 08-12-2025.
With reference to the subject and reference cited above, it is submitted that the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka, Bengaluru, in its daily order dated 03-12 2025 in Writ Petition No. 30006/2024 (GM- Police), directed the State to furnish details of missing person complaints registered in all Police Stations across Karnataka, indicating the number of cases traced and those pending during the la five years, i.e., from 2020 to 2025.
In compliance with the above directions, the required information has be collected from the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) and is enclosed here for kind perusal. The details are furnished as under:
Annexure-A: Man Missing Cases
Annexure-B: Women Missing Cases
Annexure-C: Children Missing Cases
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
(P. Harishekaran. IPS)
for Director General and Inspector General of Police
5. A perusal of the said report indicates that for the last 5 years, missing complaint cases were filed in respect of 38,073 men, out of which 31,603 were traced, leaving a balance of 6,470 untraced. Insofaras women and children are concerned, the numbers were even larger inasmuch as 71,699 women and children were reported to have been missing, out of which 68,718 were traced, leaving a balance of 2,981.
6. The above report also indicates that the age-wise breakup of the children who were missing and has found that more numbers of girl children in the age group of 13 to 17 were missing and more of those girls were not traceable.
7. It is in that background that this Court once again called upon the learned AGA to secure instructions as to the nature of the investigation which would be done.
8. The learned Advocate General also appeared in the matter on 19.01.2026 and submitted that necessary steps would be taken at the highest level to address this issue.
9. Today, a memo along with a circular dated 21.01.2026 along with certain documents, has been filed. The circular dated 21.01.2026 provides for the establishment of a District/Division Missing Persons Units and Missing Persons Squads. A Standing Order No.1054 has been issued on 29.01.2026, which deals with a procedure to be followed on receipt of information about missing children/persons. The said standing order reads as under:
IMAGE
Government of Karnataka
(Police Department)
No: CRM-2/11/WP/2025Office of the
Director General and
Inspector General of Police,
Nrupatunga Road,
Bengaluru-Dated:21-01-2026
Standing Order No: 1054
Sub:- Standard operating procedures relating to registration, Investigation and enquiry of persons missing cases.
Ref:-1.The DG&IGP office Circular No. CRM/7/SMS-1/06, Dated21.04.2016.
2. The DG&IGP office Circular No. CRM/160/ Misc-1/2007, Dated17.12.2007.
3. The DG&IGP office Circular No. 27/CRM/ SMS-1/2012, Dated:27.09.2012.
4. The DG&IGP office Circular No. CRM-2/3/2013, Dated 12.09.2013.
5. The DG&IGP office Circular No. CRM-2/3/WP/2013, Dated 19.08.2014.
6. The DG&IGP Office Crime Section Circular-3/2015 No. CRM-2/3/2013, Dated 02.06.2015
7. The DG&IGP office Crime Section Circular-15/2015 No. CRM-2/37/WP/2015, Dated 25.11.2015.
8. The DG&IGP office Crime Section Circular-14/2015 No. CRM-6/50/SMS/2015, Dated 25.11.2015.
9. The DG&IGP office Standing Order No. 1016, No. CRM-6/SMS/43/2017, Dated 05.04.2017.
10. The DG&IGP office Circular No. CRM- 6/53/SMS/2018,Dated 29.09.2018.
11. The DG&IGP office Standard Operating Procedure No. CRM-2/224/WP/2018, Dated 16.09.2020.
12. The DG&IGP Office Circular No. CRM-2/11/WP/2025, Dated 11.10.2025.
13. Delhi Police Standing Order No. 252/2019 No. 751-900/Record Branch/PHQ dated, Delhi, the 18.07.2019.
14. Daily order dated: 12/09/2025 in Ramakrishna S/o
Subray Bhat Vs The Director General of Police,
WPHC No:100012/2024
PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED ON RECEIPT OF INFORMATION ABOUT MISSING CHILDREN/PERSONS
I.
The Office of Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka has been issuing circulars, Standard operating procedures relating to registration, investigation or enquiry of missing persons and children (vide Ref. No. 1 to 12.) By such circulars and SOPs, the police officers of the State are being instructed properly to take immediate actions and steps to trace missing persons and children and ensure safety and security among society. The Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka by its order passed in Ramakrishna S/o Subray Bhat Vs the Director General of Police, Case No. WPHC 100012/2024 dated: 12/09/2025, this standing order is issued by consolidating earlier circulars and SOPs. Hence the Police officers of the State shall adopt and take steps immediate actions relating to registration, Investigation and enquiry of missing persons and children and tracing them swiftly.
1. Definitions: For the purpose of this Standing Order the following terms are defined as under-
a) "Missing Person" may be one who is lost or left home on his/her own without a notice of the family members or custodian.
b) Child means a person, who is under the age of 18 years
c) A 'missing child' means as defined under Rule 92 (1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules 2016, one "a child whose whereabouts are not known to the parents, legal guardian or any other person or institution legally entrusted with the custody of the child, whatever may be the circumstances or causes of disappearance, and shall be considered missing and in need of care and protection until located or his safety and well-being established." Further it includes the child who is lost (separated from family), has left home on his/her own without a notice or has been abducted or kidnapped or trafficked or abandoned.
d) A "Traced Child" will be a child who is traced by the police on the basis of a missing child report/FIR.
e) A found child is a child found by the Police on the streetsin a market place at railway platforms/ at sub stops/ in trains/at a port a/on a bus or other public transport/in a hospital/ during rescue operations or at any public place and/or is brought before/referred to the Police by Juvenile Justice Board ("JJB")/Child Welfare Committees (CWC)/Child-line/any other NGO or any individual.
II.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of such cases, the Officer in charge of Police Station should be the first contact point for all such complainants so as to ensure a prompt and empathetic handling. For that purpose, a Public Facilitation Desk in thepolice station will attend to such complaints around the clock.
All Unit heads will ensure that the Public Facilitation Desk of the Police Station is entrusted with the receiving all complaints relating to missing children/persons. The officer in charge the Police Station along with nonunated Juvenile Welfare Officers will invariably be activated as and when any complaim relating to missing of child is received.
III. SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
1. Directly by complainant by visiting PoliceStation.
2. Through Police Control Room (number 112)
3. Missing children/ persons helpline or any other helpline number
4. Through FAX/E-mail/SMS/Whatsapp or other social media platforms
IV. STEPS TO BE TAKEN ON RECEIPT OF INFORMATION:
(a) INFORMATION RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM COMPLAINANT IN POLICE STATION OR THROUGH PCR:
In the case of information received directly from the complainant who visits Police Station or through PCR (dial 112), immediate steps as detailed at para V of this SOP shall be followed by staff of concerned Police Station.
(b) INFORMATION RECEIVED ON MISSING CHILDREN/PERSONSHELP LINE
In addition to 112 ERSS Help Line, 24x7 Child helpline number 1098 is also functional to report the missing of children/persons in the State.
All possible assistance is being provided to the complainant/caller in getting his missing report/FIR recorded at the police station concerned, where missing occurred. The staff deployed at the helpline shall perform the following duties on receipt of information:
1. Obtain the full description of missing children/person along withcomplainant's contact number and address.
2. Advise the caller to give full details of missing children/person along with photographs to the police officer, who would be contacting him.
3. Inform the PCR, District Missing Person Unit, Concerned Police Station through their District Control Room immediately.
4. A register of all the calls received, with details of victim and contact number and address of the caller/complainant, be maintained.
5. Update the progress of the action taken by the police on the complaint including feedback from the Police Station.
6. Guide the complainant suitably when he/she calls up subsequently about progress of the case.
(c) INFORMATIONRECEIVEDTHROUGH FAX/E- MAIL/SMS/WHATSAPP OR ANY OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM
Whenever any information regarding missing person/child is received by SHO or any other staff deployed at Police Station through FAX/E-mail/SMS/WhatsApp or any other social media platform, he/she shall immediately record the same in Daily Diary of the Police Station and steps as provided in Para V of this SOP shall be followed. When the information regarding missing children/person is forwarded to SHO or any other staff of concerned Police Station by any Police Officer in hierarchy or who is not having any jurisdiction on the Police Station, the SHO or Inspector (Investigation) will immediately make efforts to contact the actual complainant and take further steps as provided in Para V of this SOP.
V. DUTIES OF POLICE STATION STAFF:
The Station House Officer will ensure that immediate action is initiated as per this Standing Order on receipt of a complaint or information about the missing child/person. The Officer in charge of police station will maintain a complete record of various efforts made by him/IOs to trace the missing children/persons. It should be monitored/reviewed by the SHO on a weekly basis and the DySP/ACP on a Fortnightly basis and they shall issue timely instructions and alsoprovide assistance to the concerned officers.
V(a). Missing Children cases.
As soon as an information or complaint about a missing child is received, necessary steps for his/her recovery need to be taken immediately. The first 15 days and especially first 48 hours from the date of receipt of information complaint about the missing of a child are very crucial. Diligent efforts are required to be made within this period and all the steps, taken during this period, should be closely monitored by supervisory formations at the Police Station Sub-Division level.
The following steps need to be taken at Police Station and by Investigating Officers as per the time frame stipulated in respect of each step:-
1. A Missing Report should be mentioned in the SHD of Police Station immediately, clearly mentioning the date and probable time when he/she was noticed to be missing and all other details of the missing children like name, parentage, age, height, complexion, sex, clothes worn and any special mark of identification etc. The photograph and contact number of complainant/relative of missing children/person should be obtained and placed on file. An experienced officer not below the rank of ASI should be quickly deputed who will contact the complainant and collect all the details about the victim.
2. Registration of a case is mandatory in cases of all missing children below 18 years of age. Officer In charge of Police station will ensure that a FIR is registered under appropriate penal sections of law.
3. Whenever the police comes across a child, who is unable to provide information regarding his/her parentage and address, a case of kidnapping shall be registered and the procedure outlined in this SO in respect of a missing child shall be initiated immediately to investigate and ascertain:
i) The parentage and address of child.
ii) The circumstances under which the child got separated from his/her family.
iii) The involvement of any organized criminal gang in the case.
4. The IO shall make all necessary efforts to reach at the root of the matter. The child shall be treated as a juvenile in need of care and protection and will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee as per the procedure. A copy of FIR shall also be sent to the DLSA to provide legal aid to the victim child.
5. IO/SHO will be held responsible if any complaint disclosing non-registration of FIR in connection with the missing child is received. Any negligence will invite strict Departmental action.
6. An experienced officer should be entrusted with the investigation of a case related to a missing child and at an appropriate stage, if required during investigation; the assistance of a woman Police Officer should be enlisted. Guidelines regarding manner in which cases shall be dealt with by District AHTU and AHTU/Crime Branch/AHTU (CID) have already been issued vide Standing order No. 1027 Dt.14.10.2020 which must be strictly complied with.
V (b). Missing person of above 18 years.
1. Whenever any foul play is suspected in case of Missing person above 18 years of age or where suspects are specifically mentioned, a case shall be registered, without delay, under relevant sections of law and investigation shall be taken up in such cases of missing persons.
2. In case of Missing person, who is over 18 years of age, where no suspicion has been raised nor has the same come to notice and where the missing person has remained untraced for a period of 3 months despite efforts of IO, then in all such cases the unit head concerned shall order for registration of case U/s 365 IPC/140 of BNS and taking up investigation accordingly.
VI. Investigation/Enquiry process
1. As soon as SHD (Station House Diary) Entry/FIR about the missing of children/ person is recorded/lodged, Police Control Room should be informed immediately. The information should also be transmitted to State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) and Children details should be uploaded on Mission Vatsalya portal and missing person details in appropriate portal immediately but not later than 24 hours.
2. A Wireless Text Message should be flashed immediately on all-India level with the detailed description of the victim.
3. Information should also be shared with relevant section of CBI within 24 hours.
4. The Missing Children Information Form (Annexure 'A') should be filled up immediately and sent to DMPU and MPS within 24 hours.
5. Hue & cry notices should be prepared and circulated in prominent informers and take up enquiries from the persons present at the scene or localities/places within 48 hours. The IO should immediately activate where the missing child was last seen. He must collect the details of suspects and question them without any loss of time. He must also within 12 hours. While questioning children less than 18 years of age, interrogate the persons at the last workplace, school, tuition place etc. the relevant provisions of JJ Act should be kept in mind.
6. Cell phone details, if any, of the missing children/suspect/accused should be immediately obtained (requisitioned) within 48 hours for further investigation of his/her whereabouts.
7. Photographs of missing children should be given wide publicity at all prominent outlets of the city/town/village concerned - i.e. at railway stations, inter-state bus stands, airport, regional passport office and through law enforcement personnel at Border Check Posts. This should be done promptly and in any case not later than one week of the receipt of the complaint or information about the missing of a child. However, prior written permission of parents/guardian shall be taken, particularly in case the missing child is a girl, before the photograph is published/broadcast.
8. Border check posts should be alerted immediately within 04 hours. In case of a missing minor; the check post staff should also be sensitized to question suspicious adults carrying children especially where abnormal behavior is noticed, during the pursuant checking of vehicles/ public transport. The angle of child labor and trafficking should also be kept in mind while investigating cases concerning missing of minors.
9. Publicity should be given in surrounding areas using loud- hailers, if necessary.
10. All necessary publicity should be given in news papers/electronic media expeditiously preferably within 07 days. Publicity should also be given through local cable TV network within 24 hours, wherever possible.
11. Wide publication or efforts to trace missing girl/child by using Portal like "Track the Missing Child Portal" / "Missing Vatsalya Portal" or any similar portal which are designated in this regard.
12. It is very important to check the email account, Facebook and other social networking application/sites such as Instagram, WhatsApp etc. of the missing children as well as suspect/alleged. The 1L.O. will check all these accounts, if any, of the missing persons as well as suspect in coordination with the Cyber Cell of Karnataka Police. The parents/family members/friends and relatives should be examined within first 48 hours to find out the probable cause of disappearance of the person.
13. The computer, diaries etc. of missing children, if any, as well as his/her personal belongings should be scrutinized for any clue within 24 hours with the concurrence of family members/complainant.
14. As and when the photograph of a missing child is uploaded, it automatically searches from the recovered/found (not connected) children data including the data of Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) being uploaded on all- India basis on the website www.trackthemissingchild.gov.in. IO should check the status of the missing child on this portal regularly. Similarly, as soon as photograph of a recovered/found child is uploaded, search is done online automatically with the missing children's data. Thus, all the missing/found children data (photograph) should be uploaded at first opportunity and probable results provided by the system should be obtained by the IOs to link the missing child with the data of found child and vice-versa. Since the success of search through FRS greatly depends on the quality of the photograph, IOs must ensure that good quality photographs are uploaded on Mission Vatsalya Portal
15. The nearby areas/spots of interest such as malls, amusement parks, games parlors, etc. should also be searched within 04 hours.
16. The footage of CCTV cameras, installed in vicinity of scenes or last seen should also be scanned within 48 hours.
17. Any person having inimical terms with the missing children/family should be identified and examined within 24 hours. Also, the level ofthreat or danger to the child or his/her family should be duly assessed and immediate steps be taken to ensure their protection, if felt necessary
18. The Police Officer, handling the Missing Report, should remain in touch with the complainant/family members of the missing child/person to ascertain if any demand for ransom has been received, and further legal action be initiated accordingly.
19. Enquiries should be made within 48 hours from the neighboring police stations about any unidentified dead body found or information about missing children/persons admitted in the hospitals.
20. Enquiries should also be made from the hospitals about unidentified injured children/persons admitted in the hospitals at the earliest but not later than a week.
21 Poor Homes, Children Homes, Nari Niketan, mortuaries in hospitals, NGOs record, etc. should be checked for the missing children/ persons at the earliest but not later than a week.
22 In appropriate cases, reward should be declared for furnishing any clue about the missing children within a month of her/his disappearance.
23. The Investigating Officer of missing complaint/ information/case should update the complainant about efforts made in the matter, ascertain further clues, if any, and also find out if the missing child/person has returned on his/her own.
24. All known offenders in the area should be associated in the investigation. If any known offender is found to be missing, he/she will be tracked on his/her cell phone and through notice to PCR, alerts will be sent to all beats and other informal networks. If the child was found to be a drug/substance-user, all known drug-peddlers in the area should also be duly investigated.
25. Some age-specific actions will be initiated depending on the age of the missing child- the actions are not exclusive, but must be done in a more focused manner.
VI (a) For children aged 0-5 years
All helpers/ servants, person's frequently visiting victim's family, friends of child, crèche owner &last seen person should be examined immediately and government/private hospitals are also alerted/intimated online about the missing child with details. This should be done within 24 hours of receipt of complaint.
VI (b) For children aged 5-14 years
All social media/online application companies may be approached for tracing any online activity, IP address, GPS location of the child. This must be continuously done till the case is closed.
In addition to above, in respect of children aged 14-18, following stepsshould also be taken:
a) Friends, teachers, tuition centers and other places visited by the childshould be searched and people questioned.
b) In cases of false promise of marriage, the suspected person/relatives should be questioned within 24 hours of complaint.
VII. STEPS TO BE TAKEN WHEN CHILD/PERSON IS FOUND ORRECOVERED:
1. In case the missing child/person is traced, the Police Control Room, District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) and Missing Persons Squad (MPS) should be informed immediately for updating the record and for discontinuing thesearch.
2. In cases of missing of girl/woman, if the investigation officer is not a woman officer, then a woman officer must be associated in the questioning or in appropriate cases; the relatives may remain present during such proceeding. Briefly, atmosphere must be created in which a girl/woman feels comfortable and is not hesitant in disclosing relevant information.
3. After recovery, produce the child before CWC/JJB/Children's Court, as the case may be, for appropriate directions within 24 hours of recovery of the child.
4. The recovery form "R" must be filled on www.trackthemissingchild.gov.in and data be updated therein within 24 hours of the recovery of child.
5. Assess the level of threat or danger to the child, or his/her family and take immediate steps to ensure their protection within 24 hours of recovery of child.
6. Proper home verification be carried out before the child is reunited with Parents/legal guardians through the CWC within one week of recovery of child.
7. Send a report to the District Legal Service Authority which shall provide counseling and support services to child and family within one week of recovery of child.
8. Conduct an enquiry whether the child has been subjected to any offence, within one week of recovery of child and if so, proceed accordingly.
9. Every found/recovered child must be immediately photographed by the police for purposes of advertisement and to make his relatives / guardians aware of the child having been recovered / found.
10. Photographs of the recovered/found child who could not be restored to the parents/guardians should be published on website / Newspapers.
11. Whenever a missing child is traced or he/she comes back on his/her own, the Investigating Officer will examine all relevant angles such as involvement of organized gangs, application of provisions of Bonded Labour Act and other relevant Acts.
12. Once a child is recovered, the police authorities shall carry out further investigation to see whether there is any angle of trafficking in the circumstances in which the child went missing and if, on investigation, such links are found, the police shall take appropriate action thereupon.
13. Whenever, the involvement of any organized gang is found, it shall be the through proper channel. responsibility of the Investigating Officer to refer the matter to AHTU wing
VIII. SUPERVISION BY SHOS AND ACPS:
(a) ACP shall ensure that SHO has registered FIR within 24 Hours as per step No: IV above. ACP and SHO will be able to monitor the progress of action on the pending complaints as per the present SO.
(b) All ACPs and SHOs will supervise the efforts made to search the missing children on day-to-day basis, particularly during the first 15 days of receipt of the complaint/information. They will give necessary directions/instructions in writing, to the 10s, in their supervisory notes. They will also attach copies of such supervisory notes in the concerned Missing Children file/ case files.
(c) In the case, which concerns missing of a girl, the DySP/ACP and the Addl. SP/DCP District must be informed. They should closely monitor the progress of search and investigation. ACP of the Sub-division should also visit the spot in cases deemed necessary.
(d) In the case of very young children, the SHO should get the immediate search of neighbourhood as well as the place from where the child was reported missing Special care should be taken to search public toilets, schools, abandoned buildings, buildings under construction, locked houses and any other place in the immediate neighbourhood, where the minor child can be held captive. SHO/IO should take care to check and search all those places which the missing child was usually visiting.
(e) All ACPs and SHOs will ensure that the copies of all SHD entries of departure and arrival in such cases are attached with the concerned missing file.
(f) All SHOs will also ensure that the record of missing children as well as forms of traced out missing children are filled up and sent to the DMPU immediately.
(g) All ACPs, SHOs will ensure that notice boards are appropriately displayed in the Reporting Room of all the Police Stations with the details of missing children neatly and prominently written thereon.
IX. DURATION OF ENQUIRY INTO MISSING REPORTS:
(a) The local police will keep the search continued till missing child is located.
(b) Missing report in respect of any children, once recorded in the relevant register maintained in the MPS, and the DMPU, will be kept open till he or she is located.
(c) The case into missing of a child will be kept open till the investigation into all known aspects of that case is complete, and the case will be treated as a Special 1 Report Case and its investigation will be closely monitored by supervisory levelsincluding the concerned District SP/DCP:
(d) The progress of enquiry /investigation will be reviewed periodically by theconcerned head of the units.
X. MISSING CHILDREN/PERSONS REGISTER:
A separate register of Missing Children/Persons shall be maintained in each Police Station for record. This register should be maintained uniformly in all police stations as per the columns specified at Annexure 'B'. Adequate space should be left under the column "Action Taken" so that detailed entries can be made in this regard. The SHO and ACP/Sub-Division should scrutinize this register regularly and guide the officer(s) dealing with the missing reports/case. They shall also evaluate the circumstances accompanying each case and order registration ofcriminal case.
XI. MISSING CHILDREN/PERSONS FILES:
A separate file will be maintained in respect of each and every missing child/person and complete record of efforts made to trace the missing child/person including copies of all relevant documents will be kept in this file. The file will be properly paged and contents of file will be reflected in the Index for ready reference. The proforma of 'Index' is given at Annexure 'C'. The SHO of Police Station will ensure that this file is properly updated.
XII. DISTRICT MISSING PERSONS UNITS:
Each District/Commissionerats shall constitute a Missing Person Jiet (MPU) at the District Police Office/Other COPs/All Divisions in Bengaluru CityCommissionerate.
The DMPU shall function under the DCRB/CCRB and shall be responsible for collection, collation, analysis and review of data relating to missing childrenand missing persons.
The DMPU shall function under the overall supervision of Addl. SP (Crime) / DCP (Crime) of the respective District/ Other Commissionerates/ DCP ofDivisions in Bengaluru City Commissionerate.
The DMPU shall act as the nodal coordination unit for inter- district, inter-state and inter-agency communication in missing cases.
XIII. DUTIES OF DMPU FUNCTIONAL & SUPERVISORY OFFICERS
(a) The DMPU of units will function under Addl. SP (Crime)/DCP (crime), under overall supervision of SP/CP.
(b) Addl. SP (Crime)/DCP (Crime) of units will be responsible for monitoring of uploading of information on portals regarding cases of kidnapped and missing children. He will ensure that details of all the children missing, kidnapped and abducted are available on digital portals in the approved format & deleted when the child is found or returns on his own. The information with regard to missing children/persons shall be immediately uploaded in the available digital portals.
(c) DMPU will match the missing children/ persons record with the data of unidentified dead bodies found.
(d) DMPU will study the pattern of disappearance of children, particularly girls in the district. If anything points towards an organized operation in the disappearance of children, it will immediately alert all officers of the concerned area and launchoperations to collect intelligence and apprehend the persons involved.
(e) DMPU will interact with AHTU's to study and discuss the pattern of disappearance of children in the city and exchange intelligence about gangs, if any.
XIV. ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT OF DISTRICT:
This unit is functional in all the units as per directions contained in Standing Order No. 1027 Dt. 14.10.2020. The Addl. S.P./DCPs will ensure that the investigation of cases, relating to missing of children between the age-group of 3-8 years, who could not be rescued or found/recovered within a period of 4 months, should be transferred to Anti Human Trafficking Unit automatically. This provision should be complied in diligent manner.
XV. MISSING PERSONS SQUAD:
Every Police Station shall have a Missing Person Squad (MPS) The MPS shall consist of One PSI as the in-charge, four staff drawn from HC/PC cadreincluding 1 WHC/WPC.
The MPS shall function under the overall supervision of the PI/CPI of the Police Station. The MPS shall ensure prompt registration, immediate field action, investigation, sustained follow-up, anddocumentation in ail missing cases.
(a) The Missing Persons Squad (MPS) shall monitor the uploading of date regarding children /persons reported missing and unidentified persons found, in the digital portals and will prepare fortnightly as well as monthly reports in this regard
(b) It will maintain close links with District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) und ensure that uploading of data and matching of missing children/persons with U Identified Dead Bodies/persons found is carried out effectively.
(c) The In-charge MPS will match the information regarding missing children/persons with the data available with the MPS and if matched, it should be communicated to concerned police station. A weekly diary about matched/traced children/persons should be sent to ACP/DYSP AHTU Section.
(d) The record of missing children/persons, unidentified dead bodies and unidentified persons found at each police station shall be updated on the digital portals. It will be the responsibility of each 10 to ensure that, further progress is also up-loaded on the digital portals besides making efforts towards tracing/linking the missing person/UIDB as well as maintaining an up-to-date file in every case of missing person, unidentified dead body police station shall ensure that or unidentified person found. The SHO of police station shall ensure that computerized record of missing persons, unidentified dead bodies and unidentified persons found/missing person’s traced form (Annexure- D) is maintained up-to-date and is available for scrutiny by supervisory officers.
XVI. Constitution of Committee for Review and Supervision of Missingpersons cases in the State:
A committee for Review and Supervision of Missing Persons Cases is hereby constituted in all the Range/Commissonerate across the State.
A. Composition of the Committee:
1. Inspector General of Police of the Range/ Commissioner of Police in Commissonerate - Chairperson
2. Superintendent of Police/DCP in the District/City Member
3. Deputy Superintendent of Police/ ACP of the Jurisdictional Sub-Division-Member
B. Duties and Responsibilities of the Committee:
i) The Committee should follow the directions given by this Hon'ble Court while disposing of the Habeas Corpus Petition.
ii) The committee should review the missing person's case investigation conducted by the Jurisdictional Police every 3 months.
iii) The Committee should ensure that the Guidelines laid down in the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Hon'ble High Court is strictly followed by the Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer.
iv) The Committee should also strictly scrutinize that the Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer has complied and followed all the SOP issued by the Central Government and State Government and Police Department time to time.
v) The Committee should ensure that the Jurisdictional Police/concerned officer has exhaustively made use of all the available upgraded technology in the investigation.
vi) The Committee should ensure that Jurisdictional Police/concerned Officer has given wide publication or made effort to trace missing child/person by using Portals which are designated in this regard.
vii) The Committee should ensure that the Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer should update on the information available frequently onmissing person's portal.
viii) The Committee has to evolve the checklist to ensure that all the Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer has complied with all the procedure.
ix) The Committee should ensure and satisfy itself that the family of the missing girl/child has been properly consulted/taking into confidence by Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer.
x) The Committee should further ensure in appropriate cases direct Jurisdictional Police/Concerned Officer to take assistance of agencies like National Investigation Agency, State Intelligence Bureau, the Antihuman Trafficking Agency, CID, CBI and any other similar agencies, for investigation of missing children.
xi) In the opinion of the Committee if the Jurisdictional Police/concerned officer has not worked satisfactorily then the committee has power to recommend the authority to change the investigation officer or take appropriate action in this regard.
C. Procedure to be followed by the Committee:
The committee keeping in mind, the directions issued by Hon'ble Supreme Court and Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka in various cases and the SOP issued by the Governments and Department time to time, should evolve its own procedure by preparing checklist for effective discharging of its responsibility.
D. Submission of Report:
The Committee should conduct the Review of the investigation for every 3months and consequently submit 2 reports every year between 6 months tothe Registrar (judicial) of Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka. The said exercise should be carried until the missing person is found or for the period of 7 years from the date of filing of Complaint of missing person, whichever is earlier.
1. Every case of missing persons wherein the missing person has not been found or the mortal remains of the missing person having not been recovered for more than two months, the said case shall be placed before the said committee.
2. The Committee shall review the investigation already done in the case placed before it and shall oversee further investigation in the matter and ensure compliance of various directions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and High Court of Karnataka as also compliance of the Circulars and SOPs issued by the Central and State Governments.
3. The Committee shall forward a report with regard to the investigation already carried out and the further steps to be taken to investigate the missing person's complaint to the Registrar (Judicial)/Additional Registrar (Judicial) as the case may be within two weeks of the case being referred to
XVII. Karnataka State Legal Services Authority:
(i) It shall be the responsibility of the SHO to ensure that a copy of FIR registered with regard to the missing of a child is delivered to Karnataka State Legal Services Authority by hand or by post or by E-Mail along with the addresses and contact/phone numbers of parents of the missing child.
(ii) All IOs/SHOs/police stations must extend full cooperation to the members of KSLSA on any information relating to missing children etc.
XVIII. CO-ORDINATION WITH POLICE OF OTHER STATES:
All concerned SHOs will ensure that the details of missing children/persons and victims are sent through special messengers to neighbouring District Crime Record Bureaus and also to SHOs of Police Stations of neighbouring states. In case of any information or clue to be followed up, the IO will be immediately dispatched to tie up with the concerned police station of a neighbouring state/district. In appropriate cases where involvement of any organized gang suspected, the AHTU Branch will maintain necessary liaison with the police of other states and the CBI.
XIX. CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE:
In the efforts by police in respect of missing minors, it will also be important to identify "Run-away Children", "Abandoned Children" "Neglected Children" and such "Vulnerable Children" who are often found roaming around places where they are particularly exposed to abuse and exploitation such as railway stations, traffic junctions etc. Their vulnerability increases due to lack of support structures-family or otherwise. Proper identification, provision of care and support, and a 'safe place is vital for them. Child Welfare Committees will maintain the record of all rescued children. These children, under the JJ Act, are the children in need care and attention, which should be given to them, and necessary action should be taken by all the concerned as per the guidelines issued earlier. For coordinating the issue of "Children in need of Care" at Police Station level, the SHO and Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPC) of Police Station shall act as the Nodal Officer. They will coordinate and supervise all issues/cases pertaining to such children and study the pattern emerging out of these cases at the police station level, and report the same to SHO and ACP/DySP Sub-Division as well as to DMPU and Senior Child Welfare Police Officer. Appropriate cases will also he brought to the notice of the SJPU. The Nodal Officers at police station will talk to returning or recovered children in detail to ascertain any angle of crime or offence or gang, and report the same to SHO and ACP/DySP Sub-Division as well as to Senior Child Welfare Officer.
XX. CO-OPERATION FROM NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:
(a) NGOs should be intimated in cases where girl is minor and an allegation of sexual assault comes to notice.
(b) In places where vulnerable groups of children are found in large numbers, & mechanism could be evolved in partnership with non-governmental organizations and social workers, whereby apart from rendering counseling to them, awareness
XVIII. CO-ORDINATION WITH POLICE OF OTHER STATES:
All concerned SHOs will ensure that the details of missing children/persons and victims are sent through special messengers to neighbouring District Crime Record Bureaus and also to SHOs of Police Stations of neighbouring states. In case of any information or clue to be followed up, the IO will be immediately dispatched to tie up with the concerned police station of a neighboring state/district. In appropriate cases where involvement of any organized gang is suspected, the AHTU Branch will maintain necessary liaison with the police of other states and the CBI.
XIX. CHILDREN IN NEED OF CARE:
In the efforts by police in respect of missing minors, it will also be important to identify "Run-away Children", "Abandoned Children" "Neglected Children" and such "Vulnerable Children" who are often found roaming around places where they are particularly exposed to abuse and exploitation such as railway stations, traffic junctions etc. Their vulnerability increases due to lack of support structures family or otherwise. Proper identification, provision of care and support, and a 'safe place is vital for them. Child Welfare Committees will maintain the record of all rescued children. These children, under the JJ Act, are the children in need of care and attention, which should be given to them, and necessary action should be taken by all the concerned as per the guidelines issued earlier. For coordinating the issue of "Children in need of Care" at Police Station level, the SHO and Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPC) of Police Station shall act as the Nodal Officer. They will coordinate and supervise all issues/cases pertaining to such children and study the pattern emerging out of these cases at the police station level, and report the same to SHO and ACP/DySP Sub-Division as well as to DMPU and Senior Child Welfare Police Officer. Appropriate cases will also be brought to the notice of the SJPU. The Nodal Officers at police station will talk to returning or recovered children in detail to ascertain any angle of crime or offence or gang, and report the same to SHO and ACP/DySP Sub-Division as well as to Senior Child Welfare Officer.
XX. CO-OPERATION FROM NGOS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:
(a) NGOs should be intimated in cases where girl is minor and an allegation of sexual assault comes to notice.
(b) In places where vulnerable groups of children are found in large numbers, a mechanism could be evolved in partnership with non-governmental organizations and social workers, whereby apart from rendering counseling to them, awareness- raising activities are also carried out. This would not only instill confidence in them but also strengthen them and given them special protection so that they are in no way lured by external agencies / factors.
(c) In order to make the investigative procedures concerning missing children more transparent and user-friendly, it would be preferable for the investigating team to involve the community at large, such as representatives of Panchayat Kaj Institutions/Municipal Committees/Neighbourhood Committees/Resident Welfare Associations, etc., in addition to existing help-lines. This will enable the community to get fully involved along with the police in tracing missing children.
(d) Periodic interface will also be maintained with Principals, teachers and students of the area by Child Welfare Police officer, Senior Child Welfare officer, SHO ACP/DySP, MPS and AHTU to sensitize them about Do's and Don'ts for children.
XXI. CO-OPERATION FROM PUBLIC:
Co-operation from members of Residents Welfare Associations, active NGOs and other public spirited persons in the area should also be enlisted in these efforts for tracing of missing children/persons.
XXII. CHECK-LIST
In order to ensure that all the requisite steps of investigation in the case of missing children/person are taken in the case of a complaint with regard to a missing woman/minor while also dealing with the cases of other missing person.
A check-list for convenience of IOs has been prepared (Annexure-E). The 10s shall use the same as index while proceeding in such matters. SHO and other supervisory officers, while monitoring such cases, shall ensure its compliance a per the requirement of the matter and also issue appropriate directions accordingly
It is further directed that if the police authorities do not follow the above directions, the concerned officer/s shall be liable to face appropriate disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the relevant service rules.
Sd/-
(Dr. M.A. Saleem, IPS)
Director General and
Inspector General of Police
Karnataka State.”
10. In pursuance of the said standing order, a circular was issued on 21.01.2026. Adopting the said standing order, on 21.01.2026, a circular has also been issued constituting a District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) and Missing Persons Squad procedure for investigation by the Anti Human Trafficking Units(AHTU) and Monitoring of the Digital Portal and Data Upload in respect of the said missing persons and the details thereto on the concerned web portal.
11. A circular has also been issued on 21.01.2026 insofar as Bangalore City is concerned, which reads as under:
“Government of Karnataka
(Police Department)
No: CRM-2/11/WP/2025 Office of the Director General and
Inspector General of Police,
Nrupathunga Road, Bengaluru-01
Dated: 21.01.2026
CIRCULAR
Sub: Strengthening of investigation. monitoring and co-ordination in Cases of missing children and missing persons constitution of District/Division
Missing Persons Units and Missing Persons Squads -reg.
Ref: Daily order dated: 12/09/2025 in Ramakrishna S/o Subray Bhat Vs The Director General of Police,
WP HC No: 100012/2024
The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and Hon'ble High Courts, in a series of judgments and directions, have repeatedly emphasized that cases of missing children and missing persons are to be treated with utmost seriousness, urgency and sensitivity. Courts have observed that delay, casual approach, or lack of coordination in such cases may result in irreversible harm, including trafficking, exploitation and loss of life. In view of the constitutional obligation of the State to protect life and liberty, and in compliance with the directions issued by the Hon'ble Courts from time to time, it is imperative that investigation, monitoring and follow-up of missing cases are institutionalised, accountable and technology-driven.
1. DISTRICT MISSING PERSONS UNITS (DMPU):
Each District/Commissionerats shall constitute a Missing Person Unit (MPU) at the District Police Office/Other COPs/All Divisions in Bengaluru City Commissionerate.
The DMPU shall function under the DCRB/CCRB and shall be responsible for collection, collation, analysis and review of data relating to missing children and missing persons.
The DMPU shall function under the overall supervision of Addl SP (Crime)/DCP (Crime) of the respective District/ Other Commissionerates/DCP of Divisions in /Bengaluru City Commissionerate.
The DMPU shall act as the nodal coordination unit for inter-district, inter- state and inter-agency communication in missing cases.
2. MISSING PERSONS SQUAD:
Every Police Station shall have a Missing Person Squad (MPS), The MPS shall consist of One PSI as the in-charge, four staff drawn from HC/PC.cadre including 1 WHC/WPC
The MPS shall function under the overall supervision of the Pl/CPI of the Police Station. The MPS shall ensure prompt registration, immediate field action, investigation, sustained follow-up, and documentation in all missing cases,
3. INVESTIGATION BY ANTI HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNITS (AHTU)
Cases transferred to AHTU as per Standing Orders shall be investigated exclusively by AHTU. Such investigations shall be conducted under the supervision of the Pl of the concerned Women Police Station. The directions issued vide Circular No. CRM-2/224/WP/2018 dated: 16/09/2020 and SOP No. 1027 dated: 14/10/2020 shall be strictly followed without deviation.
4. MONITORING OF DIGITAL PORTALS & DATA UPLOAD
Uploading of data relating to missing children and missing persons on all prescribed digital portals, and adherence to procedural requirements. shall be continuously monitored by DMPU. The Senior Child Welfare Police Officer (Sr. CWPO) of the District/Division shall personally monitor these aspects till the missing child is traced. Any delay, omission or incorrect data entry shall be viewed seriously and fixed with responsibility.
The Unit Officers are directed to take immediate action to constitute the DMPU and MPS in your respective Units and comply the above directions.
Sd/-
(Dr. M.A Saleem, IPS) Director General and Inspector
General of Police
Karnataka State.
To:
All the Unit Officers.”
12. A perusal of Standing Order No.1054 would indicate that the concerned authorities have, over a period of time, evolved a structured administrative framework to deal with the issue of missing persons, particularly missing children and girls, which has emerged as a matter of serious public concern. The Standing Order provides for a systematic institutional mechanism to ensure that complaints regarding missing persons are promptly registered, investigated and monitored at multiple levels within the police administration.
13. The Standing Order contemplates the establishment of a District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) in each district. The purpose of constituting such units is to create a specialised administrative structure responsible for receiving complaints relating to missing persons, coordinating investigations, maintaining records and ensuring follow-up action in such cases. These units are intended to function as nodal agencies within each district so that cases relating to missing persons are not treated as routine complaints but receive focused attention from the police authorities.
14. The Standing Order further provides for the constitution of a review and supervisory mechanism at the State level, which would periodically monitor the progress of investigations relating to missing persons. The objective of such review committees is to ensure that cases are not allowed to lapse into inactivity merely because the missing person has not been traced within a short period of time. The supervisory committee is expected to examine pending cases, identify investigative gaps and issue appropriate directions to the concerned officers so that investigation continues in a meaningful manner.
15. Another important aspect contemplated under the Standing Order is the need for coordination with police authorities of other States in cases where it is suspected that the missing person may have travelled outside the territorial limits of the State of Karnataka. In today’s context, where mobility across State boundaries is common, it is often necessary for the police authorities of one State to seek the cooperation of their counterparts in another State for tracing missing persons. While the Standing Order provides a broad framework for such coordination, the precise modalities of inter-State cooperation cannot be exhaustively codified within the four corners of an administrative order or a standard operating procedure. Such coordination would necessarily depend upon mutual cooperation and administrative coordination between the police authorities of different States, and would have to be undertaken on a case-to-case basis depending upon the circumstances of each matter.
16. It is therefore hoped and expected that whenever the authorities of the State of Karnataka request the assistance of police authorities in another State in tracing a missing person, such request would be responded to in a cooperative manner. Likewise, the police authorities in the State of Karnataka would also extend similar cooperation whenever assistance is sought by other States in relation to missing persons investigations. Such reciprocal cooperation becomes particularly crucial in cases involving missing children and missing girls, which are matters of grave concern to society and require urgent and coordinated action. It would also be necessary that a national framework with a database is set up to enable co-ordination by authorities across jurisdictions, since trafficking can happen from one state to another and in many cases separated by several states.
17. It cannot be lost sight of that a large number of complaints relating to missing persons, including minor children and young girls, are reported across the State, and in many cases families are left without any meaningful information regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones for long periods of time. In such circumstances, it becomes the responsibility of the State to ensure that the institutional mechanisms contemplated under the Standing Orders are not merely existing on paper but are effectively operationalised in practice.
18. Learned Additional Government Advocate submits that Standing Order No.1054 and the circulars issued pursuant thereto have been implemented by the State authorities, and that the administrative machinery contemplated under the said Standing Order is now functioning. She further submits that the District Missing Persons Units have been established and that the review and monitoring mechanisms envisaged under the Standing Order have been activated.
19. It is further submitted that going forward, all cases relating to missing persons would be periodically monitored by the authorities designated under Standing Order No.1054, and the progress of investigation in such matters would be subject to regular review. The submission of the learned AGA that the Standing Order has been operationalised and that the designated authorities are monitoring such cases is taken on record.
20. Insofar as the present case is concerned, learned AGA submits that the complaint relating to the missing person referred to by the petitioner had earlier been categorised under the “dormant” category, presumably on account of the absence of fresh leads during the course of investigation.
However, it is submitted that the said case has now been reclassified as an “active case”, and that the investigation has been recommenced.
21. It is further submitted that the investigating authorities have resumed their efforts to trace the missing person and that the investigation would continue until the missing individual is located or further conclusive information is obtained. The submission of the learned AGA that the case has now been moved from the dormant category to the active category and that investigation has recommenced is also placed on record.
22. In view of the above submissions made by the learned AGA, the immediate grievance of the petitioner, namely that the case had not been actively investigated, stands substantially addressed. Once the State authorities have indicated that the case has been revived and investigation has recommenced, no further directions are required to be issued in relation to the investigation of the present case at this stage.
23. However, the matter cannot be viewed purely from the perspective of the individual grievance of the petitioner alone. The larger issue that arises for consideration relates to the effective implementation of Standing Order No.1054 and the monitoring mechanisms contemplated thereunder. Since the State has placed reliance upon the said Standing Order and the circulars issued thereunder to indicate that a structured mechanism now exists for dealing with missing persons cases, it becomes necessary for this Court to ensure that such mechanism is actually functioning in the manner intended.
24. In that view of the matter, though the present petition stands disposed of insofar as the individual grievance of the petitioner is concerned, this Court is of the opinion that the respondent–State ought to place on record a comprehensive compliance report regarding the implementation and operationalisation of Standing Order No.1054.
25. The compliance report shall, inter alia, indicate:
25.1. Whether District Missing Persons Units have been constituted in all districts of the State;
25.2. The composition of the review and supervisory committees constituted for monitoring missing persons cases;
25.3. The frequency of review meetings conducted by such committees;
25.4. The number of missing persons cases currently under investigation, including the number of cases classified as active, dormant or traced;
25.5. The mechanism adopted for coordination with police authorities of other States in cases where the missing person is suspected to have moved outside the State; and
25.6. Details regarding any digital portal, database or online platform established for tracking missing persons cases, including the nature of information uploaded thereon and the manner in which such information is periodically updated.
25.7. The respondent–State shall also indicate in the compliance report whether any integrated digital system or portal has been established for maintaining and monitoring records of missing persons, including photographs, identifying details and investigation status, and whether such system is accessible to the relevant police authorities across the State for the purpose of coordinated investigation.
26. Though the present writ petition stands disposed of in view of the submissions made by the learned AGA regarding the revival of investigation in the petitioner’s case, the matter shall be listed after a reasonable period for the limited purpose of receiving the compliance report regarding the operationalisation of Standing Order No.1054 and the circulars issued thereunder, so that the Court may be satisfied that the institutional mechanism contemplated under the said Standing Order is effectively functioning.
27. Re-list on 10.04.2026for filing compliance report.
