Section 92 in Jharkhand Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2017
92. Inquiry in case of a Missing Child.
(1)A missing child is a child, whose whereabouts are not known to the parents, legal guardian or any other person or institution legally entrusted with the custody of the child, whatever may be the circumstances or causes of disappearance, and shall be considered missing and in need of care and protection until located or his safety and well-being established.(2)When a complaint is received about a child who is missing, the police shall register an First Information Report forthwith.(3)The police shall inform the Child Welfare Police Officer and forward the FIR to the Special Juvenile Police Unit for immediate action for tracing the child.(4)The police shall:(i)collect a recent photograph of the missing child and make copies for District Missing Persons Unit, Missing Persons Squad, National Crime Records Bureau/ Media etc.;(ii)fill the form on the designated portal;(iii)fill the specific designed 'Missing Persons Information Form' and immediately send to Missing Persons Squad, District Missing Persons Unit, National Crime Record Bureau, State Crime Records Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, and other related institutions;(iv)send the copy of the First Information Report by post/email to the office of the nearest Legal Services Authority along with addresses and contact phone numbers of parents or guardian of the missing child or the Child Care Institution, after uploading the relevant information onto the designated portal;(v)prepare sufficient number of Hue and Cry notices containing photograph and physical description of the missing child to be sent for publication.(vi)give wide publicity by publishing or telecasting the photographs and the description of the missing child, as feasible in (a) leading newspapers (b) Television/electronic media (c) local cable television network and social media and thereafter submit for ratification by the Board or the Committee or the Children's Court, as the case may be.(vii)give wide publicity in the surrounding area through the use of loud speakers and the distribution and affixture of Hue and Cry notice at prominent places. Social networking portals, Short Message Service alerts and slides in cinema halls can be used to reach out to the masses;(viii)distribute Hue and Cry notice at all the outlets of the city or town, that is, railway stations, bus stands, airports, regional passport offices and other prominent places;(ix)search areas and spots of interest such as movie theatres, shopping malls, parks, amusement parks, games parlours and areas where missing or run away children frequent should be identified and watched;(x)scan the recordings of the Closed Circuit Television Cameras installed in the vicinity of the area from where the child was reported missing and on all possible routes and transit destination points like bus stands, railway stations, and other places;(xi)inquire from under construction sites, unused buildings, hospitals, and clinics,childline services, and other local outreach workers, railway police, and other places;(xii)details of missing children should be sent to the District Crime Record Bureaus of the neighbouring States and Station House Officers (SHOs) of the bordering police stations including in-charge of all police posts in their jurisdiction and shall conduct regular interaction with the concerned so that follow up action is ensured.(5)Where a child cannot be traced within a period of four months, the investigation of the case shall be transferred to the Anti Human Trafficking Unit in the District which shall make reports every three months to the District Legal Services Authority regarding the progress made in the investigation.(6)When a child is traced:(i)he shall be produced before the Board or the Committee or the Children's Court, as the case may be, for appropriate directions;(ii)the police shall send a report to the District Legal Services Authority which shall provide counselling and support services to the child and the family; and(iii)the police shall conduct an inquiry whether the child has been subjected to any offence under the Act or any other law and if so, proceed accordingly.(7)The Central Government or the State Government may develop appropriate Standard Operating Procedures for the manner of inquiry in cases of missing children to give effect to these rules.
