Karnataka High Court Flags Gaps In Tracing 'Missing' Persons, Orders Implementation Of SOP & District-Level Missing Persons Units

The Karnataka High Court has called for the State's records to verify the implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure devised earlier this year to deal with the larger systemic issues in tracing the missing persons. The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindraj addressed the bigger picture of untraceable disappearances while hearing the specific grievance about a missing person's FIR marked 'dormant' in 2022 without progress:“It cannot be lost sight of the fact that a large number of complaints relating to missing persons, including minor children and young girls, are reported across the State, and in many cases families are left without any meaningful information regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones for long periods of time. In such circumstances, it becomes the responsibility of the State to ensure that the institutional mechanisms contemplated under the Standing Orders are not merely existing on paper but are effectively operationalised in practice”.The court has now asked the State to submit a 'comprehensive compliance report' regarding the implementation of Standing Order 1054, which deals with a procedure to be followed on receipt of information about missing children/persons, by 10th April.Earlier, the report submitted by the DGP of Karnataka in the same matter pointed to 38,073 men gone missing, out of which 31,603 were traced. Similarly, 71,699 women and children were reported to have been missing, out of whom 68,718 were traced. The court had then specifically expressed concerns about the number of teenage girls who had gone missing and remained untraceable during the time period.BackgroundOn 27.10.2025, the court had asked the state to explain how a 'missing person's FIR could be labelled 'dormant' when he was yet to be found. After taking the systemic issues at play into consideration, the court gave certain directions to tackle the institutional failure in tracing missing individuals. At this juncture, the High Court called for a sound investigative response, especially in instances of missing women and children. The court noted that missing children must be placed equivalent to 'children in need of care and protection'. It also highlighted the need of a structured and verifiable dataset to adequately respond to the systemic shortcomings in missing persons' cases.On 27.10.2025, the court had asked the state to explain how a 'missing person's FIR could be labelled 'dormant' when he was yet to be found. After taking the systemic issues at play into consideration, the court gave certain directions to tackle the institutional failure in tracing missing individuals. As per the court order, the state filed the aforesaid details about the number of missing persons from 2020 to 2025.On 21.01.2026, Standing Order No.1054 was issued by the government, detailing a set procedure that guides the response to be adopted in a missing person's case. Pursuant to the Standing Order, a circular was also issued on 29.01.2026.Submissions & Court's Observations About Model SOPBefore the High Court, the Additional Advocate General has submitted that the modalities in the Standing Order, including the District Level Missing Persons Units and review committees, have been activated. The court has also called for the details about the constitution of District Level Missing Persons Units (DMPUs) and Review Committees, the frequency of supervisory meetings held by the said committees, the number of missing cases marked as dormant, active or traced, steps taken for interstate police cooperation, and information about the national-level database and integrated database for tracking missing persons.Missing Persons Units At District, Special Squads At Every Police Station & Review CommitteesThe aforesaid SOP laid down guidelines for the constitution of a District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) as a nodal agency under the DCRB/CCRB, a Missing Persons Squad for ease of investigation at every police station, and exclusive investigation of transferred cases by Anti-Human Trafficking Units.“…The Standing Order contemplates the establishment of a District Missing Persons Unit (DMPU) in each district. The purpose of constituting such units is to create a specialised administrative structure responsible for receiving complaints relating to missing persons, coordinating investigations, maintaining records and ensuring follow-up action in such cases”, the court observed after perusing the standing order placed on record. A three-member committee at the state level, headed by the Inspector General of Police of the Range or the Commissioner of Police, has been constituted to review the investigation in every case where a person remains missing for over two months. “…The supervisory committee is expected to examine pending cases, identify investigative gaps and issue appropriate directions to the concerned officers so that investigation continues in a meaningful manner”, the court added. These committees are required to...

Karnataka High Court Flags Gaps In Tracing 'Missing' Persons, Orders Implementation Of SOP & District-Level Missing Persons Units

Sebin James

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