Delhi High Court Orders Immediate Action for Missing Children Cases

The Delhi High Court has stressed the importance of the first 24 hours in finding missing children. The court stated that police should not wait before starting an investigation. Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma emphasized that immediate action could lead to positive outcomes.

The court referred to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and directed all police stations to start inquiries immediately upon receiving a complaint about a missing child. The Commissioner of Police has been instructed to ensure that there is no waiting period.

This order was issued in response to a case where a father reported his daughter missing on February 19, 2024. The police initially told him to wait 24 hours, but the court has now transferred the case to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for further investigation. A status report is to be filed within a week, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 16.