INTRODUCTION
The Criminal Identification Bill 2022 is a piece of legislation aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of the criminal identification process. The bill aims to standardize the collection and analysis of biometric data, such as fingerprints and DNA samples, and to establish a national database for the storage and sharing of this information among law enforcement agencies.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a National Criminal Identification Database (NCID), which will serve as a central repository for the collection, storage, and dissemination of biometric data. This database will be accessible to authorized law enforcement agencies across the country and will provide a more comprehensive and accurate picture of criminal activity.
To ensure the accuracy of the data stored in the NCID, the bill requires that all biometric samples be collected in a standardized manner and that a rigorous process of quality control and verification be implemented. The bill also establishes strict protocols for the storage, retrieval, and destruction of biometric data to protect the privacy and security of the information.
Another important provision of the bill is the creation of a national network of criminal identification laboratories. These labs will be responsible for analyzing biometric samples and generating the results that will be added to the NCID. The bill requires that these labs meet strict standards for accuracy, efficiency, and security and that they be audited on a regular basis to ensure that they are operating in compliance with these standards.
The bill also includes provisions for the use of advanced technologies, such as biometric recognition software and DNA analysis, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the criminal identification process. This will help to ensure that the most up-to-date and reliable methods are being used to identify criminals and to solve crimes. This law replaces the colonial Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 . with this new legislation . The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 28th March 2022. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 6th April .
The need to amend this law first arise when the Law Commission is in its 87 th Report 1980 undertook a review of this legislation and recommended several changes in it . This was highlighted in the backdrop of the State of UP vs Ram Babu Misra, where the supreme cout had highlighted the need for amending this law.
The Act provides for use of technology record appropriate body measurements of convicts, accused persons etc. In this modern age the use of technology it is essential for a governance to be as updated as the persons in conflict with laws and the rest of the world.
The act may violate the Right to Privacy and Equality. Under the article 21 of the Indian constitution . because the data is stored in a central database which can be accessed widely and not just in the case file , and the data collected does not need to have any relationship with the evidence required for the case itself . data can be collected not just from convicted persons but also from persons arrested for any offence and from any other person to aid an investigation .
This article is written by Satyam during his internship.
