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Current Affairs

Supreme Court Orders Mandatory FIR Registration in All Missing Child and Person Cases

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On 22 May 2026, the Supreme Court of India mandated all police stations nationwide to register a First Information Report (FIR) immediately upon receiving complaints of missing children or persons. The order specifies including relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to kidnapping and applying a presumption of kidnapping or abduction from the outset without preliminary inquiry. It also requires full operationalization of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) within four weeks and creation of a national data grid to track trafficking and missing cases, intending to enhance coordination and effectiveness of law enforcement responses.

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Key Facts

  • Order date: 22 May 2026
  • Bench: Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan
  • Mandatory immediate FIR registration in all missing child and person complaints
  • FIRs must include relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) kidnapping provisions
  • Presumption of kidnapping/abduction applies from the outset of complaint
  • Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) to be fully functional within four weeks nationwide
  • Ministry of Home Affairs directed to establish an all-India data grid linking police stations and a dedicated portal for tracking human trafficking and missing persons
  • Supreme Court constituted a committee headed by Justice (retd) Mukta Gupta to frame standard operating procedures (SOPs) for missing children cases
  • Recovered persons or children to undergo Aadhaar verification or be issued Aadhaar cards

Background & Context

India faces a significant challenge with approximately 47,000 untraced missing children reported, many involving kidnapping and trafficking. Prior to this order, FIR registration for missing persons was often delayed by preliminary inquiry requirements, hindering timely investigations. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, India's new criminal code effective since 2023, contains specific provisions addressing kidnapping under sections 137 to 141, which the Court mandated must be invoked in relevant FIRs. Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) are specialized police units aimed at combating trafficking-related crimes but vary in functionality across regions. This Supreme Court directive aims to standardize, expedite, and strengthen police responses, enhancing victim protection and effective prosecution nationwide.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

This Supreme Court order is a landmark in strengthening India’s legal and institutional framework against kidnapping, child disappearance, and human trafficking. It underscores judiciary activism in protecting vulnerable populations and reforming police procedures. Understanding the order, its legal basis in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the roles of AHTUs and data grid initiatives are important for current affairs sections, Indian governance and polity topics, law enforcement reforms, and child rights issues in competitive examinations.

Points to Remember

  • Date of order: 22 May 2026
  • Bench Justices: Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan
  • FIR registration mandatory immediately upon complaint of missing child/person
  • FIR must cite applicable Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita kidnapping provisions (Sections 137-141)
  • Presumption of kidnapping/abduction from the start without need for further inquiry
  • AHTUs must be activated fully within four weeks nationwide
  • Creation of all-India data grid linking all police stations with dedicated human trafficking and missing persons portals
  • Committee headed by retired Justice Mukta Gupta to prepare uniform SOPs for missing children cases
  • Recovered children/persons to undergo Aadhaar verification or issuance
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