Register FIR in cases of missing persons immediately, irrespective of age or gender: SC

The Supreme Court has ruled that police must immediately register an FIR in cases of missing persons, regardless of the individual's age or gender. A bench of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan expressed shock at reports that some states believe the term 'person' only applies to children, not adults. The court emphasized that the language of their earlier order is clear and unambiguous, stating that 'person' means every person.

If any state or union territory fails to comply, the court will issue a notice of contempt and compel the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to appear before it and file a show-cause affidavit. As of now, 47,000 children remain untraced in India. The Supreme Court had previously ordered police to register FIRs for missing persons and ensure anti-human trafficking units are fully operational within four weeks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is directed to create an all-India grid connecting police stations with a special portal for human trafficking, including missing children and women. The court emphasized that FIRs should be filed immediately without waiting for preliminary inquiries and the child should be presumed kidnapped or abducted.

The court also directed that recovered children be handed over to their families within 24 hours, unless there are indications of family involvement in trafficking or exploitation.