DNA Technology Bill: Here’s why the Centre is withdrawing a bill passed four years ago in Lok Sabha

The Central government on Monday withdrew the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019, from the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. This was surprising since the bill was already passed in the Lok Sabha four years ago.

The Bill proposes use of technology in criminal proceedings and setting up a DNA data bank to aid crime-solving, track missing persons, and identifying the deceased.

Drafted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the bill laid out the procedure of DNA sample collection and storage from various individuals. It also included setting up a regulatory board to monitor DNA banks and labs.

The purpose of the bill is to expand the application of DNA-based forensic technologies to support and strengthen the justice delivery system, according to the government.

The Bill was first introduced and passed in Lok Sabha in January 2019 but it lapsed as it could not be passed in Rajya Sabha due to objections from opposition parties. The government again passed the bill in Lok Sabha in July 2019 and it was sent to a standing committee.  

Reasons behind withdrawal of the bill

The DNA Technology Bill has faced strong objections from opposition parties. The Congress party accused the Government of ignoring necessary safety measures in the use of DNA technology. This accusation, combined with concerns raised by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, led to the bill's withdrawal.

Government concerns about overlaps with the new Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act also influenced the withdrawal. This act covers several provisions similar to those in the DNA Technology Bill.

Privacy issues took centre stage during the debate over the issue. Parliamentarians and privacy rights advocates voiced concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive DNA data. In the wake of this, calls for comparable privacy measures in existing laws are echoing across the nation. Some consider the bill's withdrawal as aligning with global and Indian court rulings on privacy rights.

According to reports, as most of the bill deals with use of DNA technology for criminal procedures, the Union Home Ministry should take the lead in drafting the bill instead of the Science and Technology Ministry.