Nodal Officers To Be Appointed In Each State To Monitor Missing Children's Cases: Supreme Court

Today, the Supreme Court, while hearing the PIL seeking direction to trace missing children, directed the Union of India to appoint designated Nodal Officers to monitor missing children cases on real time basis. 

A PIL has been filed by a NGO, Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan, regarding kidnapping of children who were trafficked through a network of middlemen to various States such as Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. 

The Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice R. Mahadevan heard the matter and directed, "In circumstances, we direct Union of India, to communicate each of the States and Union Territories to make available the details of designated Nodal Officer, who is the in charge of missing children...and, once any complaint of missing child is received on the portal, there would be simultaneous dissemination of information to the Nodal Officers, who could in turn take steps for the tracking of missing child, investigation of perpetrators and for registering cases."

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, submitted that there are two portals in function to monitor the missing children's cases, namely Track Child portal and Khoya-Paya portal. The ASG apprised the Court that these portals have also been integrated in the Mission Vatsalya Scheme in 2025.

Justice Nagarathna suggested that these portals should have a two way mechanism- where both Government agencies( in case a child was found), and Parents/Guardians (in case child was lost) could register a complaint.

"That system is already there. May be we can make it more robust...we can strengthen these", said ASG.

Further, ASG informed the Court that Track Child Portal is only for law enforcement agencies, while Khoya-Paya Portal is available to everyone, including private individuals.

Crucially, Justice Nagarathna observed that there must be a particular Nodal Office in each State and Union Territories to monitor these portals on real time basis.

While Advocate Aparna Bhatt, appearing for the Petitioner-NGO, underscored that the issue is of kidnapping of children for trafficking.

"The portal is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, it is not functioning in the way it is supposed to function...I want to highlight the fact that this Petition is not about missing children. It is about transitional thing that is happening, the children are being kidnapped and then trafficked and sold to people. This is different from missing child's case", submitted Bhatt.

Bhatt also informed the Court that there are human trafficking players involved in this issue. To which, Justice Nagarathna said that missing child includes kidnapped children as well, thus, the Nodal Officers appointed will monitor the same and bridge the communication gap.

Thereafter, Justice Nagarathna recorded in Order, "In circumstances, we direct Union of India, to communicate each of the States and Union Territories to make available the details of designated Nodal Officer, who is the in charge of missing children...and, once any complaint of missing child is received on the portal, there would be simultaneous dissemination of information to the Nodal Officers, who could in turn take steps for the tracking of missing child, investigation of perpetrators and for registering cases."

Accordingly, the matter will be heard in November.

Cause Title: Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan V. Union of India (W.P.(Crl.) No. 43/2024PIL-W)