Delhi HC issues directions on streamlining functioning of Police while tracing missing children

Stating that pro-active steps should be taken by the Delhi Police to curb the menace of missing children, the Delhi High Court has issued a slew of directions on streamlining the functioning of the Delhi Police/Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) while tracing missing children. (Surender Sah vs State).The directions were issued by a Division Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal in a habeas corpus petition by the father of a girl child who has missing since October 14, 2019..Broadly, the directions are as follows:(i) The District AHTUs, which investigate cases of children between the ages of 3-8 years that are missing for four months or more and there is a suspicion of links to trafficking and organised crime, shall function as a nodal agency for all cases of missing children in the district concerned.(ii) The District AHTUs shall work in close coordination with the local police, as well as other agencies, providing expert assistance to Investigating Officers, including in respect of collection and analysis of technical evidence.(iii) In every district, an officer not below the rank of a DCP shall, on a fortnightly basis, review the progress of investigation in every case registered in respect of missing children in the respective districts.(iv) An officer not below the rank of an ACP should be nominated at every District AHTU, who shall analyse the pending as well as closed cases of missing children, to identify patterns or other circumstances indicating the likelihood of links to trafficking or organised crime, on a regular basis i.e., at least twice a month.(v) In cases where there are indications of links to trafficking or organised crime, appropriate steps ought to be taken, including launching operations no later than within 24 hours to apprehend persons involved and to rescue the missing children.(vi) An officer not below the rank of an Addl. DCP shall be nominated in each district to hold at least one meeting each month with ACP (AHTU) and the SHOs concerned, to identify sections/pockets of their respective districts that are worst affected in terms of missing children.(vii) A team shall be formed at each district under an officer not below the rank of an Inspector (AHTU) to streamline and expedite the process of restoring children rescued under Operation Milap.(viii) For the purpose of investigation, Delhi Police ought to enter into an appropriate arrangement with radio-taxi/cab service provider to provide transport services on pre-approved rates.(ix) Publication of advertisements of missing children shall be made no later than 72 hours from receipt of information by the Police..Additionally, the Court has also directed the Ministry of Railways to initiate appropriate steps to provide for an emergency quota for reservation of tickets for Investigating Officers to travel outside the NCT of Delhi..The Court has directed the Delhi Police as well as the Ministry of Railways to pass an action taken report by the next date of hearing in respect of the above directions..The Petitioner in the case was represented by Advocate Mallika Parmar..State was represented by Standin Counsel (Crl) Advocate Rahul Mehra with Advocates Chaitanya Gosain, Divyank Tyagi, RA Iyer..Read the Order: