MP High Court Directs Police to Trace Man Missing from Jabalpur Medical College
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a directive to the Jabalpur police to urgently locate a man who has gone missing from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Jabalpur. This order came during a hearing on a habeas corpus petition filed by the wife of the missing individual, highlighting concerns over patient safety and law enforcement responsiveness.
Court Hearing and Directions
A division bench of the MP High Court, comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, heard the petition on Tuesday. The bench directed the Jabalpur police to conduct a thorough search for the missing man and produce him in court on the next hearing date, scheduled for April 21. This judicial intervention underscores the seriousness of the case and the court's commitment to ensuring justice for the petitioner.
Details of the Missing Person Case
The petitioner, Preeti Vishwakarma, stated in her petition that her husband was admitted to the Jabalpur medical college for treatment on August 25, 2025. During his hospitalization, she visited him one evening only to find him missing from the hospital premises. Following his disappearance, she took multiple steps to seek help:
- Lodged a complaint about her missing husband on the 'Sakhi' app, a platform for reporting such incidents.
- Informed the police through the same app to ensure official documentation of the case.
- Approached the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission, which subsequently requested a report on the matter from the Jabalpur Superintendent of Police (SP).
Despite these efforts, the man remains untraced, prompting the court to intervene and mandate a police-led search operation.
Broader Implications and Next Steps
This case raises important questions about hospital security protocols and the efficiency of police investigations in missing person reports. The use of digital tools like the 'Sakhi' app for filing complaints highlights the integration of technology in public safety, but also points to potential gaps in follow-up actions. The court's directive aims to expedite the search process and ensure accountability from the authorities involved.
As the police intensify their efforts to locate the missing individual, this incident serves as a reminder of the critical role judicial oversight plays in safeguarding citizens' rights. The outcome of the April 21 hearing will be closely watched to assess the effectiveness of the police response and the broader implications for similar cases in the future.
