The daunting task to track missing persons in the country got a push on Monday as the Supreme Court sought information on steps taken by the Centre for creation of DNA profiling database of unidentified dead bodies.
The Court dealt with two separate PIls - one filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan that focused on tracing missing children and another by NGO lokniti Foundation that demanded DNA profiling of unidentified dead bodies.
With regard to the latter, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra enquired from the Centre on the feasibility of having DNA profiling done of unidentified dead bodies. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Neeraj Kishan Kaul told the Court that the Government was “seized” of the matter. However, he cited certain issues of privacy, shortage of funds, infrastructure and lack of expertise as bottlenecks.
The petition pointed out that on average 40,000 persons go missing every year and there was a clear link to identify or trace them by collecting DNA profiling of unidentified dead bodies. The bench was told that 120 out of 172 Interpol countries have facility for storing forensic DNA profiling.
The bench said, “With the advent of modern scientific method, it is obligatory on the part of the State to avail requisite infrastructure so that a DNA data bank is created, especially in respect of two categories mentioned above.” It directed the ASG to “impress upon” the competent authorities to seriously think on creation of an effective road map to “echo the voice and cry of the feelings and philosophy of the 21st century.” It asked Centre to give details of steps taken in this regard by September 22.
Meanwhile, on the other petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, states submitted action taken reports pursuant to apex court order of May 10, 2013 asking states to mandatorily register FIR of missing children. The bench headed by Justice Hl Dattu asked senior advocate HS Phoolka appearing for the NGO to examine the compliance reports and submit a detailed chart pointing the status of compliance with regard to each State.