Allahabad High Court Criticises Police for Lack of Progress in Missing Person Case

The Allahabad High Court has instructed the Uttar Pradesh Police chief to submit an affidavit concerning a missing 21-year-old from Varanasi. This directive comes amid dissatisfaction with the police's lack of progress in the case. Despite forming a team on June 7, no advancements were reported by June 12, the date of the hearing.

On June 10, the court criticised police officials for neglecting their duty to address public grievances. The bench, comprising Justices Siddhartha Varma and Harvir Singh, expressed disgust at the absence of any updates on the case. "Today, when the case was taken up, absolutely no progress was brought to the notice of the Court," stated the court order dated June 12.

Police Accountability and Court's Concerns

The case involves a writ petition by Nitesh Kumar regarding his brother's disappearance, allegedly due to abduction. Kumar claims that Varanasi police have not been proactive in locating his brother. The court had previously criticised the police on June 4 for their sluggish response to such cases.

The court emphasised that if a kidnapped person is not swiftly recovered and is harmed due to delays, accountability should lie with the police department head where the incident occurred. Despite forming a team on June 7, Varanasi's police commissioner informed the court on June 12 that they had not yet found the missing youth.

High Court's Directive for Police Action

The court has taken serious note of this ongoing inaction and has now requested a detailed affidavit from the UP director general of police (DGP). The court observed on June 10 that police often show indifference in abduction cases because no personal responsibility is assigned to any officer.

This lack of accountability can lead to tragic outcomes, such as an abduction turning into murder due to police inaction. The court has directed that this case be presented as fresh on July 9, 2025, indicating its continued oversight and concern over the matter.

With inputs from PTI