'Women, Children Go Missing; Nothing Is Done': Karnataka High Court Seeks 5-Year Data On Missing Persons

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to place on record the statistics for the last five years from 2020 to 2025, as regards the number of missing complaints received and how many such complaints are acted upon and persons are traced.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj observed “Nothing is happening in the missing persons case, we don't know, close the case. This is a serious issue, children missing no action, missing person issue is a big matter.”

The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by one Mahesh, seeking a direction to the respondents to conduct a detailed investigation with due diligence pursuant to the complaint filed by him regarding the missing status of one Kumar and thereafter file an appropriate status report about his whereabouts and development in the investigation process.

The government advocate submitted that the complaint was registered after one year and Police had made all efforts to trace the missing person.

To which the court said “You furnish the statistics. With the objection you file. We understand that police officers are burdened but nothing is done. Women go missing, girl children go missing.”

In its order the court said, “AGA seeks for and is given a week's time to file objections in regards to the investigation that is carried out. She is also directed to place on record the statistics for the last five years from 2020 to 2025, as regards the number of missing complaints received, category wise— men, women, children (boy and girl). If further categories by age and how many such complaints are acted upon and persons are traced. Any other data related to missing complaints.”

The matter is now listed next week.

Case Title: Mahesh AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 30006/2024