Supreme Court ने बाल संरक्षण डेटाबेस का एकीकरण और मानव तस्करी विरोधी इकाइयों की सक्रियता का आदेश दिया – 47,000 लापता बच्चे

<h2>Overview</h2> <p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — the apex judicial body that interprets the Constitution and can issue directions to the executive; its pronouncements are vital for GS2: Polity.">Supreme Court</span> on <strong>May 22, 2026</strong> expressed alarm over the growing number of missing children in India. A bench comprising <strong>Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah</strong> and <strong>Justice R Mahadevan</strong> highlighted that about <strong>47,000</strong> children remain untraced, a sharp rise from roughly <strong>10,000</strong> a year earlier. The Court identified gaps in data sharing, non‑functional anti‑trafficking units, and procedural delays as key reasons for the backlog.</p> <h3>Key Directions</h3> <ul> <li>Integrate the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) — a nationwide police database that records FIRs, investigations and criminal records; essential for GS2: Polity and GS3: Governance.">CCTNS</span> database with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Vishal Vasilya database — a child‑welfare information system that tracks missing and rescued children; relevant for GS2: Polity.">Vishal Vasilya</span> system to enable real‑time information exchange among police, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) — statutory bodies under the Juvenile Justice Act that oversee child protection and rehabilitation; GS2: Polity.">CWCs</span>, <span class="key-term" data-definition="District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) — district‑level agencies that coordinate child‑protection activities and liaise with police and NGOs; GS2: Polity.">DCPUs</span>, and child care institutions.</li> <li>Make all <span class="key-term" data-definition="Anti‑Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) — specialized units at district level tasked with investigating trafficking cases; GS2: Polity.">AHTUs</span> fully functional within four weeks, providing them with adequate powers, staff and infrastructure.</li> <li>Presume kidnapping when a child is reported missing, and register the case under kidnapping provisions to ensure swift investigation.</li> <li>Do not wait four months to transfer cases to <span class="key-term" data-definition="AHTUs">AHTUs</span> if trafficking is evident; transfer immediately.</li> <li>Restore rescued children to their families within <strong>24 hours</strong>, unless the family is implicated in trafficking, in which case the State and <span class="key-term" data-definition="Child Welfare Committees (CWCs)">CWCs</span> assume responsibility.</li> <li>Mandate Aadhaar registration for every recovered child to avoid duplicate identities and aid future tracing; <span class="key-term" data-definition="Aadhaar — a unique 12‑digit biometric identification number issued by the UIDAI, used for welfare schemes and verification; GS3: Governance.">Aadhaar</span> integration to be coordinated by DCPUs.</li> </ul> <h3>Imp