Kochi, Dec 10 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court raised significant alarm on Wednesday regarding the case of Suraj Lama, an Indian national who vanished from Kochi Airport after being deported from Kuwait.

The court emphasized that safeguarding every citizen is a constitutional duty and demanded comprehensive explanations from both police and airport officials regarding the apparent failures in managing the situation.

A Division Bench, consisting of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M.B. Snehalatha, expressed these concerns while addressing a habeas corpus petition submitted by the son of the missing individual.

Labeling the circumstances as “shocking,” the Bench pointed out that a citizen who returned to the nation safely post-deportation had subsequently gone missing, with current reports even indicating that he might be deceased.

The court received information regarding the recovery of a body in Kalamassery, with scientific examinations, including DNA profiling, being conducted to ascertain if it belonged to Suraj Lama.

“We are worried as citizens and not just as judges. This could occur to any citizen,” the Bench stated, voicing deep concern over the unfolding situation.

Posing serious inquiries regarding the authorities' actions, the court highlighted the obligations placed on law enforcement under the Mental Health Act to provide protective custody to any individual found in a vulnerable state.

“When an individual is spotted wandering the streets, we must ensure they are taken into protective custody. The Mental Health Act serves this purpose. Specific responsibilities are assigned to the SHOs and police,” the court remarked.

The Bench criticized what it viewed as a negligent attitude from the authorities, noting that a vulnerable person was reportedly allowed to roam without adequate care or protection.

The court also ordered that a “real, cogent explanation” be given by the airport authorities about how the deported citizen was treated upon his arrival.

“As we have mentioned each time this matter is addressed, we remain hopeful that this man is alive,” the court added.

Stressing the seriousness of the issue, the Bench declared, “For us, this is extremely shocking. We cannot trivialize this matter because every citizen is invaluable, and we may have lost a life. Everyone is accountable.”

The petitioner’s counsel echoed the court’s worries, highlighting that despite the filing of a missing person FIR, the individual had interacted with the police on two occasions before being taken to Kalamassery Medical College Hospital.

The case has been scheduled for a further hearing on Thursday to review reports from the Medical College Superintendent and the State Police Chief.