HC seeks report on missing children in UP

Allahabad, Feb 15 (UNI) Taking serious note of the 712 missing children in Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad High Court today directed the state DGPs to provide their district-wise gender and age details on March 12, the next date of hearing.

A Bench, comprising Justices Amar Saran and R N Mishra also directed the Union Women and Child Development Secretary to take all steps for expeditiously setting up an all-India website and inform the court about the compliance.

Passing the order on a writ petition filed by Vishnu Dayal Sharma, the court directed the state government to set up a similar website in the State.

The website could contain information of the missing child, contact address of parents, date since went missing, age, gender and date of FIR. It may also contain a column mentioning progress of investigation/recovery of the child.

The court directed the efforts should be made to link the state website with the national website, being set up by the Centre in collaboration of UNICEF and others.

The court said earlier direction to district judges to provide legal aid lawyers at the SSP/SP/CO levels as special cells for missing children will continue.

The district judges have been asked to monitor the same.

Meanwhile, the DG Prasar Bharti, New Delhi will have to inform the High Court about the telecast in Doordarshan of missing children.

The court also accorded appreciation to UP DGP Bua Singh for issuing prompt and detailed circular on January 10, 2007 in compliance of the High Court order in letter and spirit.

The court will hear the case on March 15 next.

UNI