Allahabad High Court Registers Suo Motu PIL Over Alarming Missing Persons Crisis in Uttar Pradesh
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has taken a significant step by registering a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the distressing case of over one lakh missing persons reported in Uttar Pradesh during the past two years. This judicial intervention highlights a grave public safety issue that has been largely overlooked by authorities.
Court Expresses Shock at Police Inaction in Missing Persons Cases
During the proceedings, the division bench comprising Justices Abdul Moin and Babita Rani expressed profound anguish and disappointment at the alarming statistics revealed in the case. The court noted with concern that out of the staggering 1,08,300 missing person complaints registered between January 1, 2024, and January 18, 2026, police action was initiated in only 9,700 cases. This means that in the remaining 98,600 cases, representing over 91% of all complaints, authorities had taken no steps whatsoever to locate the missing individuals.
The bench termed this situation as "alarming" and stated that the data was "shocking" in its magnitude and implications. The judges observed, "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 strong judicial language underscores the court's frustration with what it perceived as systemic negligence in handling these sensitive cases.
Case Originated from Individual Petition Highlighting Systemic Failure
The suo motu PIL originated from a criminal writ petition filed by Vikrama Prasad, who approached the court after his son went missing in July 2024. Prasad alleged that despite filing a complaint, the police showed no interest in searching for his missing son. The petitioner sought judicial intervention to direct the police to actively look for his child.
When the bench examined this individual case, it sought a detailed affidavit from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home). The official response revealed the shocking statewide statistics that prompted the court to expand the scope of the matter from an individual complaint to a broader public interest issue affecting thousands of families across Uttar Pradesh.
Judicial Intervention and Future Proceedings
The bench expressed particular pain at what it described as the "lethargic attitude" of police authorities in searching for missing persons. Recognizing the matter's significance for public interest and safety, the court directed the registration of the case as a suo motu PIL, thereby expanding its scope beyond the original petitioner's individual grievance.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 5, where further directions are expected regarding systemic improvements in how missing persons cases are handled across Uttar Pradesh. This judicial monitoring represents a crucial step toward ensuring accountability and prompt action in what has become a massive humanitarian concern affecting over a hundred thousand families in the state.
The court's intervention comes at a critical time when public confidence in law enforcement's ability to address such fundamental safety concerns has been severely undermined by the revealed statistics. The suo motu action signals the judiciary's commitment to protecting citizens' rights and ensuring that authorities fulfill their basic responsibilities toward public safety and welfare.
