Terming that the BJP government is suffering from a ‘big brother’ syndrome Congress opposed the introduction of the DNA Technology Bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 9th. Alleging that there are ‘massive loopholes’ in the government’s proposition of the Bill the opposition exerted that there were ‘massive loopholes’ in the government’s proposition.
Under the government’s proposed DNA Technology (Use and Application Regulation)Bill,2018 it is clearly stated that ‘national and regional DNA databanks’ will be set up for ‘maintaining a national database’ for identification of victims, accused, suspects, under- trials, missing persons and unidentified human remains. Congress voiced its dissent and vehemently opposed the idea of ‘DNA profiling’ and called the bill ‘ill-conceived’ as it violates the principles of data protection and right to privacy which was again re-emphasized under Article 21A by the SC under the Right to Life.
Abhishek Singhvi, a spokesperson of the Congress, stated, with regard to this issue :
“The magnitude of the desperation of the Modi government is so huge that they did not even wait for the ministry of electronics and IT to present its Data Protection Bill as the DNA Bill violates the principles of Srikrishna Committee Report on Data Protection in India and the Personal Data Protection Bill submitted by the committee”
The centre had previously stated that it will confidently answer every question and concern regarding this initiative as it assures that it has got it scrutinised this step through every ‘possible quarter’.This step was initiated by Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan who introduced the bill and had positively asserted that such a step was undertaken to ‘strengthen the research ecosystem and strengthening regulation of such facilities’.
While the centre has clearly been very positive with their approach this time, the voices of dissent have taken the example of Aadhar, and questioned that how it was a comprehensive structure but the ‘government distorted it and made it a snooping device’
“This huge DNA laboratory to collect DNA… how is it to safeguard in the laboratory? No provision has been made to safeguard, protect it. There is also no provision in the Bill on how long the government will get to store this sensitive data” added Mr. Singhvi.