IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Writ Petition No. 1016 of 2007 Date of decision: 8th February, 2010 Ram Samujh … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and others … Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. R.S. Bains, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. J.S. Bhullar, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab for the State. Mr. Tekwinder Singh, Advocate for respondents No.6 to 11. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the detenue despite best efforts made by the Punjab police is not traceable. Learned counsel has further submitted that on last many hearings, an attempt was made by this Court to persuade State Governments to formulate a policy regarding missing persons. Counsel has submitted that in many other countries this policy is in vogue. It is submitted that since for formulation of this policy, Union of India, State of Haryana and State of Punjab are necessary parties, liberty be granted to urge this vital issue in public interest litigation. Counsel has very fairly stated that in case where a person is missing, same is a non-cognizable offence, therefore, no enquiry or investigation is undertaken by the police authorities or any other functionary of the State. Criminal Writ Petition No.1016 of 2007 There is merit in the contention raised by counsel for the petitioner. Therefore, he is permitted to take the facts of this case as an illustration and pursue his prayer for formulation of policy regarding missing persons by the State in public interest litigation. With the observations made above, present criminal writ petition is disposed of. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE February 8, 2010 rps 2