Supreme Court FIR order for missing persons

The India — Supreme Court of India clarified that its earlier order directing states and Union Territories to immediately register FIRs in cases of missing persons applies to every person, irrespective of age or gender. The clarification came after some states misinterpreted the order as applying only to children. The Court expressed shock at this interpretation, calling it a 'deliberate and mala fide bogey'. It warned that non-compliant states and Union Territories would face contempt proceedings, with notices issued to Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police, who must appear personally before the Court. The Court also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish an all-India grid connecting police stations with a special portal for human trafficking, and ordered that missing persons be presumed kidnapped or abducted. The next hearing is scheduled for October 5, 2026.