Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022

Identification of Prisoner Act, 1920 is quite old, hence unscientific and almost obsolete considering the present time. To fill those outdated gaps and widen the scope of evidence for conviction has come into existence, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022.

After months of conversation and communications with various states and integrating their suggestion as well and on the recommendation of the Law Commission for reconsidering the Identification prisoners act 1920, Home Minister Amit Shah finally presented the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 in Lok Sabha on March 28.

It was passed by both the houses, Lok Sabha on April 04, 2022, and Rajya Sabha on April 06, 2022.

Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 Objective

The main objectives of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 are as follows:

• To permit law enforcement agencies like the police to record measurements of criminals and other convicts who are arrested or detained to identify and inspect criminal matters.
• Preserve necessary records related to the convicts
• Store, use, and analyze physical and biological samples collected from the convicts to proceed with an investigation.
• Replace the identification of Prisoner Act 1920, allowing the police to record finger and footprint impressions and photographs of the convicts.

Salient Features of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022

When talking about the features of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022, the following points need to be noted:

1. Measurements of the convict include:

• Fingerprint, footprint, and palm impression
• Photographs of the convict from all dimensions
• Retina and iris scanned images.
• Complete scrutiny of the physical and biological samples collected like hair or semen samples or even DNA profiling.
• Behaviour analysis
• Record handwriting and signature of the convict

2. The state or the Central government shall be deemed as official gazettes and may make rules for executing the purpose of this Bill.

3. NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) has the right to collect records from the state government or the Union territory Administration and preserve or destroy the records at the national level for up to 75 years in digital or electronic form.

4. Under the Code of criminal procedure, 1973, the magistrate may order any convict to wilfully give measurements for a police record.

5. In case a convict is released or discharged or acquitted by the court, after all, legal proceedings, the record needs to be destroyed.

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Advantage of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022

The advent of technology and the need for a scientific approach to criminal investigation is great. As it is imperative to maintain a balance between the privacy rights of citizens and also the security of the state, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 would suffice as an appropriate technique of investigation.

The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 was presented to fill the outdated gaps that the Identification of Prisoner Act, 1920 had and to widen the scope of evidence for a conviction. It was passed by both the houses, Lok Sabha on April 04, 2022, and Rajya Sabha on April 06, 2022, and should work as a more progressive and helpful technique of investigation.

FAQs on Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022

Q.1. What is the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022?

The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 is a new Act for investigating criminal matters and recording identifiable information including measurements and physical or biological samples of the accused or the convict.

Q.2. Who presented the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 and when?

Home minister Amit Shah presented the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 on 28th March in Lok Sabha.

Q.3. What measurements should be considered in the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022?

According to the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022, physical and biological samples and also the foot or handprints are a few measurements a convict has to give to the legal body.

Q.4. What is the main objective of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022?

The main objective of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022 is to replace the identification of Prisoner Act 1920 which is old and less scientific owing to changing times.

Q.5. Which legal body can store the database of the convicts as per the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022?

NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), has the right to collect records from the state government or the Union territory Administration and preserve or destroy them as per the proceedings of the criminal case as per Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill 2022.