Police Must Lodge Missing Persons' Complaints, Lack of Jurisdiction Not an Excuse: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has held that the police cannot refuse to lodge a missing persons complaint on the basis that the said Police Station does not have the required jurisdiction to deal with the issue.

The Court, further, issued directions to be followed by the police in such cases.

It directed the police to register all missing persons' complaints without citing jurisdiction, circulate details of the missing person widely, secure DNA samples of the family members and upload information on government portals. Untraced cases of over two months would be reviewed by an IGP-led committee.

It also ordered the release of a strict compliance circular by the State Government.

[Ramakrishna Bhat v The Director General Of Police And Others]