Court directs the Govt to file an affidavit regarding the lakhs of missing women from Maharashtra

Mumbai – Bombay High Court has asked State Government, “what are the measures taken to trace lakhs of women gone missing, or for women trafficking ? Or what are the plans ? What mechanism does the Government have, to prevent it ?” Raising these questions, the Court has directed the State Government, Rajya Mahila Ayog and Railway Police to file an affidavit regarding the lakhs of women who have gone missing from Maharashtra.

1. The court passed the above order while hearing a petition filed in the court regarding a missing young girl from the State. The petitioner had mentioned that more than 1 lakh women had gone missing from Maharashtra between 2019 to 2021. The court demanded an explanation form the State Government and the Police about their stand on this matter.

2. Since number of missing girls and women is large, it is the duty of the State Government and the Police to trace them earnestly. The Police Administration, Railway Police, Vigilance Team should look at this problem seriously, the Court said.

3. This matter came up for hearing before a division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar. The Court directed the Rajya mahila Ayog to clarify its stand as defendant.

Editorial Perspectives

  • Instead of the Court having to pass such an order, the Government should have taken serious steps on its own.
  • Government which launches various schemes for women, needs to look at this issue very seriously at least now. Otherwise, if women disappear, for whom will they implement the schemes ?