Mail News Service
Ranchi, Jan 21:The Jharkhand High Court has summoned the state Home Secretary to appear online on January 27, expressing serious concern over lapses in a long-pending missing minor girl case from Gumla and the absence of guidelines to monitor people entering the state from outside.
The court observed that the lack of identification and monitoring mechanisms has made Jharkhand vulnerable to child trafficking and related crimes.
Hearing a habeas corpus petition linked to the disappearance of a six-year-old girl in 2018, the bench noted an inordinate delay in investigation, pointing out that an FIR was lodged in 2020 while a Special Investigation Team was formed only in 2025.
The court questioned the inaction against responsible officers and flagged the role of organised trafficking networks operating under the guise of business.
Terming the issue one of public importance, the High Court directed the Home Department to frame clear guidelines for regulation, verification and monitoring of outsiders entering Jharkhand, including police verification at the local level.
The court also sought concrete measures from the home secretary to curb child trafficking and ensure accountability in missing children cases.
