The Karnataka High Court has ruled that police cannot refuse to register a missing persons complaint on the ground of jurisdiction and has issued detailed directions to ensure such cases are handled with urgency.

A division bench of Justice SG Pandit and Justice CM Poonacha was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by a father whose daughter has been missing since 2023. The petitioner alleged that despite repeated approaches, the police had failed to trace her. Taking note of the lapse, the bench emphasised that in the digital age , missing persons cases require swift and coordinated efforts.

The court made it clear that no complainant should ever be turned away. Instead, police must register the case immediately and, if required, forward details to the jurisdictional Anti-Human Traff

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