The Kerala High Court has proposed the creation of a statewide information system to help trace missing persons, in the context of a habeas corpus petition filed by Santon Lama seeking to locate his father, Suraj Lama, who has been missing since October 5 after arriving in Kochi from Kuwait. A division bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and M.B. Snehalatha noted the risk that Lama, due to possible speech impairment, memory loss, or inability to communicate, may remain untraced despite being physically nearby. The court expressed concern that without an effective way to broadcast information about him, crucial early (“golden period”) opportunities for locating him might be lost.
The judges observed that many disappearances may go unsolved simply because there is no structured mechanism to circulate information about missing individuals to the broader public. They emphasized that if information about missing persons could be disseminated widely to the citizens across Kerala, it would greatly enhance the chances of timely identification. The bench said that they were unsure whether such a system currently existed in the state through the police or any other authority, and if not, recommended establishing one “to the extent feasible.” They stressed that meaningful community participation, via the public receiving information, could empower police and other authorities to take prompt action.
In court, the Government Pleader said he would seek instructions from the Police Department and other relevant authorities on the feasibility of such a system. He also informed the court that investigators were diligently pursuing the case, and had collected unverified reports suggesting Lama had been seen at local shops or interacting with people in public.
Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Parvathi Menon, supported the court’s suggestion, underlining the emotional strain her client was experiencing while independently searching for his father. The court acknowledged that pain, and assured that it would persist in its efforts to locate Lama.
The High Court’s proposal reflects a recognition of the critical role that both state institutions and ordinary citizens can play in tracing missing persons, especially in situations where the missing individual may not be able to advocate for themselves. The matter has been scheduled for further consideration on the next hearing date.
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