The Supreme Court has asked the Union government, state administrations, and Union Territories to respond to a petition calling for a standardised national mechanism to investigate child kidnapping and abduction cases.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notices on Thursday to the Centre, all states, and Union Territories. The court also sought responses from the Law Commission of India alongside the Union ministries of Home Affairs, Law and Justice, and Education.
The order came during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay through advocate-on-record Ashwani Kumar Dubey. The petition flagged widespread institutional breakdowns in how authorities trace missing, kidnapped, and abducted minors, urging judicial intervention to compel coordinated and prompt responses among investigative bodies.
To address these lapses, the plea urged the court to mandate time-bound criminal probes, establish specialised investigative procedures, and set up dedicated fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in cases involving offences against children.
