[BREAKING] "Cannot force test for pregnancy": Supreme Court directs Delhi Police to ensure secrecy qua investigation in missing minor case of 13-year old girl

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The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi Police to maintain secrecy in the investigation in a case related to the 13-Year-old minor missing girl.

A bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice CT Ravikumar noted,
"there are two contrary documents, let us first determine her age as we cannot force pregnancy test," in light of an earlier submission by UP Police that the child had refused medical tests and had said she was above 18.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by mother of a 13-year-old who is missing since July 8, 2021, alleging that despite filing an FIR with Gorakhpur Police and making efforts to file a complaint with the Delhi Police, no action has been taken to date to trace the minor girl as the girl used to work as house help in Delhi.

Later, Delhi Police had informed the Court that they have found the 13-year-old girl missing for the last 2 months in Kolkata and have also arrested the kidnapper, after the apex court directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to hand over the case files. In furtherance to which the Court had directed the investigation to be transferred to the Delhi Police.

Amicus Curie submitted that my associates may be allowed to interact with the Girl.

Whereas, over the request of Advocate Amit Pai that the media may be restrained to publish details related to the investigation as the matter relates to a minor the bench directed the Delhi Police to maintain secrecy during the investigation.

However, the bench while allowing two associates of the Amicus to interact with the Girl, directed AIIMS to submit the age determination report in the meantime.

Case Title: Neelam Kanojia Vs. The State of Uttar Pradesh and Anr.