The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to consider setting up a dedicated online portal under the aegis of the Union Home Ministry to trace and investigate cases of missing children.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan noted that there is a “serious lack of coordination” among state and union territory police authorities tasked with tracing missing children. The court emphasised the need for a centralised mechanism to ensure timely exchange of information and concerted action.
The bench suggested that the portal could designate an officer from each state as the nodal authority for registering and handling complaints of missing children. Such a system, it said, would not only strengthen coordination but also aid in dissemination of crucial information across jurisdictions.
“The problem requires a coordinated effort. A dedicated online platform will ensure that missing complaints are promptly addressed and monitored,” the court observed.
The court asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Union government, to seek instructions on the proposal. The matter assumes significance as the top court had earlier directed the Centre to issue reminders to states and union territories that have failed to furnish updated data on missing children cases.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by NGO Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan, which flagged serious lapses in tracing kidnapped and missing children. The petition cited the government’s existing Khoya/Paya portal but pointed out the gaps in effective follow-up action.
To illustrate the gravity of the issue, the NGO referred to five cases registered in Uttar Pradesh last year where minor boys and girls were abducted and trafficked by organised networks of middlemen to states including Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The court underlined that protecting children from trafficking and exploitation is a constitutional responsibility and that institutional shortcomings cannot be allowed to hinder justice. The matter will be taken up further once the Centre provides its response on the feasibility of such a portal.
