New Delhi, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Supreme Court has raised alarm regarding the disturbing rise in cases of missing children throughout the nation, noting that the authorities have not provided these incidents with the appropriate level of attention or urgency. The court signaled its intention to develop a unified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the recovery of these children.

A panel comprised of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R. Mahadevan was deliberating on a petition from a man in Tamil Nadu, seeking assistance in locating his daughter, who vanished in September 2011 when she was just one year and ten months old, and has not been located since.

The bench remarked, "Based on the arguments presented by the counsel and the documents reviewed, it appears that the state has started to acknowledge the severity of this issue. In this particular situation, some positive steps have been initiated, which is promising."

While acknowledging that the Tamil Nadu government has undertaken certain initiatives, the Supreme Court emphasized the need for a comprehensive national approach, stating: "We observe that such occurrences are widespread across the nation, and it seems that the relevant authorities are not affording them the attention they truly deserve, which is a matter of concern for us."

The court mandated that the Union of India, represented by the Union Home Secretary, along with all state governments and Union Territories (UTs), through their respective Home Secretaries, be included as respondents in this matter.

The bench added, "Our goal is to establish a common Standard Operating Procedure, which is essential because time is of the essence in these situations. It is a crucial factor in determining the potential for recovering these missing children."

Additionally, the Supreme Court expressed its expectation that the actions already set in motion by the Tamil Nadu government in this case will be pursued with serious dedication.

Considering the matter to be part-heard, the Supreme Court has scheduled further deliberation for March 10.

This petition has been pending before the Supreme Court since August 2025. Previously, the bench led by Justice Amanullah had stressed the importance of a thorough and professional investigation, which should include insights from senior retired police officials and the petitioner.

In November of the previous year, the counsel for the state government informed the Supreme Court that they were utilizing artificial intelligence tools to track the missing child, with information being shared with other states to assist in the search.