SC Urges MHA to Launch Portal to Track Missing Children

Supreme Court Calls for Dedicated Portal Under MHA to Track Missing Children

Court Flags Poor Coordination Among State Police Units in Handling Missing Child Cases

Judges Stress Need for Centralized System to Protect Vulnerable Children Across India

By Our Legal Reporter

New Delhi: September 29, 2025: The Supreme Court of India has recommended the creation of a dedicated online portal under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deal with cases of missing children. The Court expressed concern over the lack of coordination among state police units and emphasized the urgent need for a centralized system that can track, monitor, and resolve such cases efficiently.

The ruling comes at a time when India continues to face a worrying rise in the number of missing children, many of whom fall victim to trafficking, forced labor, or exploitation.

Background of the Case

The matter reached the Supreme Court through a petition highlighting the inefficiency of existing mechanisms in tracing missing children. Currently, missing child cases are handled by state police forces, but the absence of a unified system has led to delays, duplication of efforts, and poor communication between states.

The Court noted that while platforms like TrackChild and Khoya-Paya exist, they are not being used effectively by all states. Many police units fail to update information regularly, leaving families in distress and hampering investigations.

Supreme Court’s Observations

The bench, while hearing the matter, made several key observations:

Need for Centralization: The Court said that a dedicated portal under the MHA would ensure uniformity and accountability across states.
Poor Coordination: It flagged the lack of coordination among state police units, which often results in delays in tracing children who may have crossed state borders.
Accountability: The Court stressed that every missing child case must be treated with urgency, as delays can expose children to trafficking and abuse.
Technology Integration: The Court suggested that the new portal should integrate with existing systems like Aadhaar, CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System), and immigration databases to improve efficiency.

Why This Matters

The Supreme Court’s recommendation is significant for several reasons:

Protecting Vulnerable Children: Missing children are often the most vulnerable members of society, and a centralized system can help protect them from exploitation.
National-Level Monitoring: A portal under the MHA would allow real-time monitoring of cases across states, ensuring no child “falls through the cracks.”
Faster Tracing: With better coordination, children who are trafficked across state borders can be traced more quickly.
Transparency: Families of missing children will have access to updated information, reducing their distress and uncertainty.

Existing Challenges in Missing Child Cases

India faces several challenges in handling missing child cases:

Underreporting: Many families, especially in rural areas, do not report missing children due to fear, stigma, or lack of awareness.
Delayed FIRs: Police often delay registering FIRs, despite Supreme Court directions that every missing child case must be treated as a case of trafficking or abduction.
Poor Data Sharing: State police forces rarely share data with each other, making it difficult to trace children who are moved across borders.
Trafficking Networks: Organized trafficking networks exploit these gaps, making it harder to rescue children.

Role of Technology

The Supreme Court emphasized that technology must play a central role in addressing the crisis. A dedicated portal could:

Allow real-time uploading of FIRs and photographs of missing children.
Use facial recognition technology to match missing children with those found in shelters or on the streets.
Integrate with railway and bus station surveillance systems to track child movement.
Provide direct access to parents and guardians, enabling them to upload details and track progress.

Reactions from Experts

Child rights activists and legal experts have welcomed the Supreme Court’s recommendation.

Child Rights Groups: Organizations like Bachpan Bachao Andolan have long argued for a centralized system, saying it will help reduce trafficking and exploitation.
Legal Experts: Lawyers note that the ruling reinforces earlier Supreme Court directions that missing child cases must be treated with utmost seriousness.
Police Officials: Some police officers admit that coordination between states is weak and that a central portal could help streamline investigations.

International Comparisons

Several countries have already adopted centralized systems to track missing children:

United States: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) works closely with law enforcement and families.
European Union: The EU has a common hotline number (116000) for missing children, ensuring cross-border coordination.
Canada: The Canadian Centre for Child Protection runs a national database and works with police across provinces.

India’s proposed portal could draw lessons from these models while adapting to local challenges.

Broader Implications

The Supreme Court’s recommendation could have far-reaching effects:

Policy Reform: The MHA may be required to issue new guidelines for handling missing child cases.
Training for Police: State police forces will need training to use the new system effectively.
Public Awareness: Families must be educated about how to use the portal to report missing children.
Accountability Mechanisms: Regular audits and monitoring will be needed to ensure states comply with the system.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s call for a dedicated portal under the Ministry of Home Affairs to handle missing child cases is a landmark step in strengthening child protection in India. By addressing the lack of coordination among state police units and emphasizing the use of technology, the Court has laid the foundation for a more effective and humane system.

If implemented properly, the portal could transform the way India deals with missing children, ensuring faster tracing, better coordination, and greater accountability. Most importantly, it could save thousands of children from falling into the hands of traffickers and abusers.