Jharkhand High Court Directs Centre and State to Frame SOP Using Aadhaar Data to Trace Missing Children

Jharkhand High Court Directs Centre and State to Frame SOP Using Aadhaar Data to Trace Missing Children

Bench stresses urgent need for clear mechanism to help police locate minors faster

Court says missing children’s cases cannot be treated casually; calls for robust policy framework

By Our Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: February 14, 2026:

In a landmark move, the Jharkhand High Court has directed the Central and State governments to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for tracing the Aadhaar details of missing children. The directive came while hearing a habeas corpus petition concerning a minor girl missing from Gumla district since 2018.

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A division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai emphasized that cases involving missing children must be treated with urgency and seriousness. The Court observed that the absence of a clear SOP hampers investigations and delays recovery efforts, especially in cases suspected to involve human trafficking.

Case Background

• The petition was filed by Chandramuni Urain, mother of the missing girl, who sought judicial intervention for her daughter’s recovery.
• The police had filed an FIR and attempted to trace the girl’s Aadhaar details through the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), but the application remained pending for a long time.
• The Court noted that this delay highlighted the need for a structured mechanism to allow police faster access to Aadhaar-linked information.
• The petitioner alleged that her daughter may have been a victim of human trafficking, underscoring the urgency of the matter.

Court’s Key Observations

• Need for SOP: The Court directed both Centre and State to formulate a clear SOP for tracing Aadhaar details of missing children.
• Speed of investigation: It observed that the current process is too slow and hampers timely intervention.
• Human trafficking concerns: The Court stressed that missing children’s cases often involve trafficking and cannot be treated casually.
• Police empowerment: A robust SOP would empower police to act quickly and efficiently in tracing victims.

Implications of the Judgment

1. For Law Enforcement: Provides a structured framework to use Aadhaar data in investigations.
2. For Families: Offers hope for quicker recovery of missing children.
3. For Governance: Reinforces accountability of Centre and State in protecting vulnerable minors.
4. For Policy: Sets precedent for integrating Aadhaar data into child protection mechanisms.

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Broader Legal Significance

This directive highlights the judiciary’s proactive role in safeguarding children’s rights. By insisting on an SOP, the Court has ensured that technology is harnessed for social justice. Aadhaar, India’s largest biometric database, can become a powerful tool in tracing missing persons if used responsibly and within a clear legal framework.

It also underscores the importance of inter-agency coordination between police, UIDAI, and child protection authorities.

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Conclusion

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The Jharkhand High Court’s directive to frame an SOP for tracing Aadhaar details of missing children is a milestone in child protection jurisprudence. By recognizing the delays in current processes and stressing the urgency of such cases, the Court has ensured that technology is used effectively to safeguard minors.

This ruling not only strengthens investigative mechanisms but also sends a strong message that missing children cases demand immediate and serious attention.

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