The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to ascertain whether there is a nationwide network or state-specific group behind the incidents of children going missing from different parts of the country. A bench of Justices B V Nagrathna and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasised the need to ascertain whether there is a pattern behind these incidents or if they are random ones. The Apex Court asked the Centre to collate data from all states.

The top court suggested that children who have been rescued should be interviewed to ascertain who is responsible for such incidents. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said some states have given their data on missing children and that of prosecution, but around a dozen states have not given their data. She submitted that the analysis can be made only after the Union government gets complete data. The bench was critical of the states that have not furnished the data, and said it may pass harsh orders in this regard if needed. The bench was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO that highlighted the rising number of children who remain untraced across several states.