The Jharkhand High Court has taken a stern view of the alleged police inaction and procedural delays in tracing an 18-year-old woman who has been missing for over seven months. A division bench comprising Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Sanjay Prasad has summoned the Bokaro Superintendent of Police (SP) to appear physically before the court on March 23 to explain lapses in the investigation.
The court cautioned the state police that if the ongoing probe is found to be “perfunctory,” the responsibility for the investigation could be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The matter reached the High Court through a petition filed by Rekha Devi, the mother of the victim. According to the petition, Devi’s 18-year-old daughter has been missing since July 31, 2025.
The petitioner highlighted significant initial hurdles in the legal process. Following the disappearance, Rekha Devi had approached the Pindrajoda Police Station in Bokaro to lodge a ‘sanha’ (information/initial report). However, despite the woman being traceless, it took the local police ten days to formally register a First Information Report (FIR).
During the hearing on Friday, the bench raised sharp questions regarding the conduct of the Bokaro police. The court specifically queried the SP on what disciplinary actions had been taken against the Officer in Charge (OC) of the Pindrajoda Police Station for the 10-day delay in registering the FIR.
The bench expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress over the last seven months. The judges directed the Bokaro SP to furnish the complete case diary and provide a detailed account of the steps taken by the investigation team since the FIR was lodged.
“The court needs to understand what steps have been taken by the police to trace the woman who has been missing since July 2025,” the bench remarked, emphasizing the gravity of the delay.
The High Court has ordered the Bokaro SP to be present in person during the next hearing to justify the investigation’s timeline and address the perceived negligence. The court’s warning regarding a CBI transfer underscores the judiciary’s intent to ensure a rigorous and time-bound search for the missing victim.
The case is scheduled for its next hearing on March 23.
