SC wants to know about steps to trace missing kids

The Supreme Court Thursday asked the central government to spell out its position on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) formulated by the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) on the registeration of FIRs on missing children and the steps for tracing them.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu gave the Centre one week's time to apprise it on SOPs which NALSA has prepared in consultation with other stakeholders, including the home ministry, women and child welfare ministry and NGOs.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government would not be making any amendment in the SOPs suggested by the NALSA and would add a few more if need be.

The court's order came in the course of the hearing of a PIL by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, which had moved the court to seek its intervention for tracing a large number of missing children all over the country.