HC seeks status report on 34 missing minor girls; 227 traced in six months in city

Lucknow: A Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Wednesday directed the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a detailed progress report on 34 minor girls who remain untraced, while noting that 227 girls have been recovered over the past six months in the city.

The direction came during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition before Justice Praveen Kumar Giri. Personal affidavits filed by the commissioner of police and the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Lucknow, stated that 261 minor girls had been reported abducted, kidnapped, enticed away or missing during that period. Of these, 227 have been traced and recovered, while efforts are underway to locate the remaining 34.

Recording the presence of senior police officers, including the DCP, the court took note of their assurance that all necessary steps were being taken. Police informed the court that special monitoring mechanisms had been put in place and officers across all zones of the commissionerate had been directed to prioritise such cases.

The DCP told the court that investigations would be closely monitored at the zonal level and strict action would be taken against any investigating officer, station house officer or circle officer found negligent. The state government also assured the court that departmental proceedings would be initiated in cases of laxity.

Expressing concern over the unresolved cases, the court underscored the need for sustained efforts to safeguard the life and liberty of minor girls. It directed judicial officers to monitor the progress of investigations and stressed accountability at every level of the police hierarchy.

The court asked the CP to file a personal affidavit with the latest status of all 34 pending cases by July 3, observing that continued coordination between police and judicial authorities was essential for early recovery of the girls and to bring those responsible to justice.