Kerala High Court Recommends Statewide Information Mechanism To Trace Missing Persons

The division bench comprising Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M B Snehalatha, were considering the habeas corpus plea filed by Santon Lama to trace out his father, Suraj Lama – stated to be missing since October 5 since his arrival in Kochi from Kuwait.

A special investigation team which was set up pursuant to the orders of the Court is carrying out the investigation of the case. The Court has previously impleaded Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Social Justice Department of the Kerala Government in the matter. 

Today, when the case was taken up, the Court observed that there are chances that the missing person remains untraced because he is unable to express himself.

“We have a lurking suspicion that the alleged detenue may be still available very close by but remaining untraced only because he is unable to express himself,” the bench observed.

The Court has also observed that there are many instances of citizens vanishing without trace and there will be better chances in tracing them if there is a mechanism to transmit the information of the missing person Statewide.

The court said that the information about missing individuals should reach every citizen in Kerala to improve the chances of quick identification.

“We are of the view that information about him, must be able to be circulated to every citizen in Kerala. We are not sure if there is any such mechanism either with the police or any other authority. If not, we certainly recommend such a mechanism - to the extent feasible - because in cases like this, if every citizen gets information about the detenue or the missing person, it will certainly be available to police to act swiftly without wasting precious time, particularly in golden periods,” the Bench noted.

The Government Pleader informed the court that he would seek instructions from the Police Department and other authorities on the feasibility of such a system. He further submitted that investigators are continuing persistent efforts to locate the missing man and have collected unverified reports of him eating at certain shops and interacting with members of the public.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Parvathi Menon supported the submissions and told the court that her client has also been independently searching for his missing father. She described the emotional strain he is undergoing, which the Bench acknowledged.

“We can only assure that the Court will not rest until we are able to trace his father,” the order concluded.

The matter is posted on 1 December for further consideration.

Case No: WP (Crl) No. 1421/2025

Case Title: Santon Lama v. State of Kerala and Ors.

Counsel for the petitioner: Parvathi Menon.