Unacceptable that facial recognition software was not helpful in missing kids cases: HC to police

The Delhi High Court has termed as "unacceptable" that the facial recognition software adopted by the police has not helped in cracking any missing children case, as over 5,000 kids who disappeared from the national capital in last three years remain untraced.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Manoj Kumar Ohri said such a large number of children going missing from Delhi and that too in a span of three years, was "a matter of grave concern".

It also termed as "most unacceptable" that the facial recognition software (FRS) adopted by Delhi Police after due diligence "has not borne any results" as it has "not helped in cracking any missing children case".

"We are told that use of facial recognition software has not helped in cracking any case of missing children so far, which comes as a surprise. It is most unacceptable that the software adopted by the Delhi Police after due diligence has not borne any results," the court said.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Crime Branch, represented by Delhi government standing counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra, had earlier told the bench that of the 19,916 children who went missing from the national capital in the last three years, 14,756 have been traced and reunited with their family.

It had also said that the remaining 5,160 children remained untraced.

Referring to the submission, the bench said, "It is a matter of concern that out of a total number of 19,916 cases of missing children, only 14,756 children have been traced and reunited with their family members whereas, 5,160 children are yet to be traced. Such a large number of children going missing in Delhi and that too in three years, is a matter of grave concern.

"These are voiceless children primarily belonging to the economically distressed strata of society with hardly anyone to take up their cause. The situation becomes more serious when the parents of such children who do not have the financial backup or any wherewithal, are left to run from pillar to post in search for their missing children."
Taking note of the submission, the bench said, "Once, segregation between the two divisions takes place in all the police stations in Delhi, a dedicated team for tracking the missing children under the Crime and Investigation Division can be constituted at all the police stations."