Delhi High Court Orders Immediate Action for Missing Children; No 24-Hour Wait

The Delhi High Court mandated that police must act immediately on reports of missing children, emphasizing the crucial first 24 hours. The court directed all police stations to begin investigations immediately without waiting. The case concerned a missing minor, shifted to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for a swift probe.

The Delhi High Court has declared that police must take immediate action when dealing with reports of missing children, emphasizing that the first 24 hours are crucial for successful resolutions. The decision was made as part of a case involving a missing minor girl.

The court referred to a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and instructed that no police station should impose a 24-hour waiting period before beginning an inquiry or investigation into cases of missing children. The court directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure immediate action in all such cases.

The High Court has also transferred the existing case to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Delhi Police. The unit has been ordered to conduct a swift and diligent investigation under senior supervision and to file a status report within a week.

The incident in question involves a minor girl who went missing on February 19, 2024. Her father alleges that when he first reported her disappearance, police advised him to wait 24 hours before filing a complaint.

The girl's father returned to the police the next day, leading to a 'missing person report' rather than an FIR for kidnapping. The case is being represented by Advocate Manika Tripathy and her team, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 16.

(With inputs from agencies.)