New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre, the Delhi government and the city police on a public interest litigation highlighting a sharp increase in missing persons cases in the national capital.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also asked whether a similar petition is pending before the Supreme Court. The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 18.

The plea, filed by NGO Freedom Reclaimed, describes the situation as an “unprecedented crisis”, citing reports that more than 800 people went missing in Delhi during the first 15 days of 2026 alone.

According to the petitioner, the “right to be found” is an integral part of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petition alleges that the rising numbers reflect a systemic failure in preventive policing and investigative mechanisms, with missing cases no longer being isolated or sporadic.

“The gravity of the situation warrants judicial scrutiny beyond routine procedural formalities,” the plea states. It argues that such a high number of disappearances within a short span suggests the existence of organised criminal networks, including human trafficking, which thrive due to the absence of time-bound and technology-driven investigations.

Citing data available on the Delhi Police website titled Statement of Missing Persons in Delhi (Manual-17/4158), the petition notes that a total of 2,32,737 people were reported missing in the capital between 2016 and January 15, 2026. Of these, 52,326 individuals remain untraced.

The plea further points out that the untraced persons include 6,931 children below the age of 18, calling it a continuing violation of the constitutional rights to life, dignity and personal liberty.

Despite the existence of a detailed legal framework governing missing-person cases — including Supreme Court directives, standing orders under the Delhi Police Act and standard operating procedures issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs — the petition alleges persistent administrative apathy.

It claims that the crucial “golden hour” immediately following a disappearance is often lost due to delays and procedural reluctance, particularly in the registration of FIRs, which adversely affects recovery efforts.

The NGO has sought directions for strict and uniform implementation of prescribed protocols in every missing-person case. Among other reliefs, it has also urged the court to direct the Delhi government and the police commissioner to set up a high-level coordination committee.

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Such a committee, the plea suggests, should periodically cross-check missing persons records with data on unidentified patients in government hospitals and unidentified bodies lying in mortuaries, to improve tracing and identification efforts.