Why fingerprints, iris scans not mandatory: HC

Illustration: Freepik

The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to mandatorily record fingerprints and iris scans of all citizens including children during their birth registration.

The registrar general of birth and death registration under the LGRD ministry, its secretary, public safety secretary of home ministry and inspector general of police have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Arifur Rahman Murad Bhuiayan, founder and executive director of rights organisation Sarda Society.

He submitted the petition to the HC in March  last year saying that recording of finger prints and iris scans of citizens needs to be made mandatory to identify bodies of unidentified people and locate missing people and offenders.

Arifur Rahman Murad Bhuiayan himself placed arguments on his petition while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state.