DNA banks to store your profiles
■ 3-yr jail, `1 lakh fine for data leaks, says draft bill
New Delhi, May 13: DNA data banks will be set up at the national and state level to store profiles, and those who leak the information stored in such facilities will be punished with a jail term of up to three years, according to a draft bill on DNA technology being finalised by the law ministry.
The draft bill also states that all DNA data including DNA profiles, DNA samples and records, will only be used for identification of the person and not for “any other purpose”. The department of biotechnology was consulted by the law
panel to draft the bill. The Law Ministry is now finalising the official draft before it goes to the Union Cabinet for final approval.
The Central government had recently informed the Supreme Court bench that a bill for DNA profiling to enable maintenance of records of unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies, missing persons and others, is likely to be brought in the upcoming session of Parliament.
■ The draft bill is based on the one prepared by the Law Commission recently
■ It states that national and regional DNA data banks will be set up
■ A database has to be maintained for identification of victims, suspects, undertrials, missing and unidentified human remains
New Delhi, May 13: DNA data banks will be set up at the national and state level to store profiles, according to a draft bill on DNA technology being finalised by the law ministry.
The draft bill, based on the one prepared by the Law Commission recently, states that national and regional DNA data banks will be set up for maintaining a national database for identification of victims, accused, suspects, undertrials, missing persons and unidentified human remains.
It states that those who leak the DNA profile information to people or entities, who are not entitled to have it, will be punished with a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to `1 lakh.
Similar punishment is also prescribed for those who seek the information on DNA profiles illegally.
A bench considered the statement made by the additional solicitor general appearing for the Centre, saying the government should take steps as expeditiously as possible.