UP High Court Demands Answers on Alarming Missing Persons Statistics
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has taken a stern stance regarding the disturbing number of missing persons cases reported in Uttar Pradesh over the past two years. In a significant development on Thursday, the court issued summons to the state government, demanding comprehensive data on all such cases.
Court's Directives and Government Response
A division bench comprising Justices Rajan Roy and AK Chaudhary has mandated the presence of the Additional Secretary (Home) and the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) at the next hearing scheduled for February 23. The officials have been instructed to appear via video conferencing to assist the court in this critical matter.
During the proceedings, government advocate VK Singh presented the state's position, explaining that the reported figure of approximately one lakh missing persons might require filtering. He noted that in numerous instances, individuals might have been located, but this information had not been properly updated in the official records. Singh assured the bench that updated and accurate data would be submitted at the upcoming hearing.
Background of the Case and Judicial Concern
The court's intervention stems from a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated after reviewing a criminal writ petition filed by Vikrama Prasad. Prasad had approached the judiciary alleging police inaction in the search for his son, who went missing in July 2024.
Earlier, in the last week of January 2026, the bench had expressed profound dismay upon learning that while over 1,08,300 missing persons complaints were registered between January 1, 2024, and January 18, 2026, law enforcement had taken action in merely 9,700 cases. This revelation came to light through a detailed affidavit from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home).
The bench had previously remarked, "We are aghast at the attitude of the authorities in addressing the complaints pertaining to missing persons which obviously require a sense of urgency." This statement underscores the judiciary's serious concerns about the handling of such sensitive cases.
Implications and Next Steps
The court's proactive measures highlight several critical issues:
- The enormous volume of missing persons reports in Uttar Pradesh.
- The significant gap between complaints registered and actual police investigations conducted.
- Potential systemic failures in data management and case follow-up procedures.
- The urgent need for improved coordination and responsiveness from state authorities.
As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the February 23 hearing, where the state government is expected to present clarified data and outline steps being taken to address this pressing humanitarian and law enforcement challenge. The outcome could set important precedents for how missing persons cases are managed not only in Uttar Pradesh but potentially across India.
