SC Suggests MHA Create National Portal to Track Trafficked and Missing Children, Seeks Govt Response

The Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R Mahadevan made the suggestion while hearing a public interest litigation highlighting the plight of children falling prey to organised trafficking networks operating across multiple States.

The Court permitted Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati to seek instructions from the government on the proposal.

The Bench observed that one of the biggest hurdles in recovering trafficked children is the absence of coordinated efforts among States and Union Territories. “A child trafficked from one State could be from persons who are residents of another State and the trafficking could occur from a third State in another zone and sometimes to overseas destinations. In order to have a coordinated effort in tracing missing children and to aid and assist the investigation of such offences, we find it just and proper to have a common portal under the supervision and control of the Home Ministry,” the Court said.

The Court noted that the present system suffers from a “lack of coordination” among police units tasked with handling such cases. As a result, recovery of children kidnapped for trafficking or other illegal purposes is often delayed or not achieved at all, leading to tardy investigations.

The proposed portal, the bench said, should be managed by a dedicated officer from each State who would register complaints and disseminate information accessible to all nodal officers nationwide. Such a platform, according to the Court, would also help strategise and facilitate investigations in real time.

Last year, on September 24, the Court had already directed the Union to coordinate with stakeholders and gather district-wise and year-wise data on missing children since 2020, when the Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC) was launched.

The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 14.