Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday while discussing the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said that the Bill is “unconstitutional.”
“It violates liberty, privacy & dignity of people. The Bill wasn’t referred to a select committee,” former Home Minister said.
Chidambaram also said that the Union government has not taken into account the historic verdicts of Supreme Court in Selvi and Puttaswamy cases.
“In the Selvi case, the court said that the polygraphy, narcoanalysis and brain electrical activation profile (BEAP) violate an individual’s rights,” Chidambaram added.
His comments come after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday moved ‘The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022’ for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha.
The Bill which was described as “draconian” by Opposition members, was passed in Lok Sabha two days ago.
The new Bill would enable the police and prison officers across India to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples, iris and retina scan and signature and handwriting of arrested or convicted prisoners.
The Bill seeks to repeal The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 whose scope was limited to allow for taking of finger impressions and foot-print impressions of limited category of convicted and non-convicted persons and photographs on the order of a Magistrate.
 Bill, 2022 in Rajya Sabha said that the Bill is "unconstitutional."){kind=link}