The court had taken suo moto cognizance of the increasing number of missing children and had ordered an inquiry by DCPCR.

According to media reports, 2,210 children went missing from the capital in 2008.

During an earlier hearing, Delhi Police admitted that they did not register FIRs in all cases and the court expressed its displeasure over this. It said: 'If a child does not return, how do the parents know whether the child has gone away on his own or has been kidnapped if you don't conduct investigation?'

The court said the actual figures might be higher 'because FIRs were not registered in all cases'.

The report also claims that police have an insensitive attitude towards the families of missing children.