Bill empowering police to acquire convicts’ bodily samples notified

As per new notification, measurements of protesters violating Section 144 and arrested throughout protests could be taken if they’re charged with another offence punishable below another legislation in the interim in pressure.

Earlier, former President Ram Nath Kovind had given his assent to the Bill. The Act, which replaces the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, was handed by Lok Sabha on April 4 and Rajya Sabha on April 6.

Several Opposition events slammed the laws as “unconstitutional” and “draconian” and claimed it could possibly be misused because it authorises legislation enforcement companies to take measurements of an arrested particular person. Some of the measurements are finger-impressions, palm-print impressions, foot-print impressions, images, iris and retina scan, bodily, organic samples and their evaluation, behavioural attributes, together with signatures and handwriting. A notification stated: “The authorised user or any person skilled in taking the measurements or a registered medical practitioner… may take the measurements, but with prior approval from a police officer not below the rank of superintendent of police…”