STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund appreciated the steps so taken by the Assam Government on the installation of CCTV cameras in the police stations in the state and the preparation of a comprehensive database based on the fingerprints and biometrics of every accused who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. The bench, however, made a mention that the affidavit submitted by the State government was silent on the observation made by this court that 'the biometrics so collected should be assimilated in the 'e-Prisons' software as well'.
During the hearing of the suo motto PIL (2/2018), the Advocate General of Assam assured the Court that the process (assimilation of the biometrics so collected in the 'e-Prisons' software) would also be completed at the earliest.
Earlier, the Advocate General of Assam submitted that an affidavit had already been filed on behalf of the State of Assam in terms of the observations made by this Court on August 14, 2023. "The affidavit elaborates on the fact that installations of CCTV cameras at all police stations in Assam have been completed and the cameras are functional. It is also stated that the recording storage capacity of the police stations is one month, and for the central server, it is one year. Regarding the comprehensive database based on fingerprints and biometrics of every accused who comes into contact with the criminal justice system, it is stated that the process is being undertaken through the Central Project, i.e., the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (hereinafter referred to as 'NAFIS'). The State Finger Print Bureau (SFPB), CID Organization, Assam, is the state nodal agency for the project conceptualised and initiated by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, in 2019. Fifty-one NAFIS workstations are functional in Guwahati, and 34 are in other districts. About 50,017 fingerprints of arrested or convicted persons from Assam have been digitised and uploaded to the central server."
Meanwhile, the Additional Advocate General, Arunachal Pradesh, has placed on record a factual report, as per which the process is being undertaken in the state for the preparation of the database of fingerprints and biometrics. However, the software is yet to be developed, and a request has been made to the concerned department(s) in this regard. CCTVs have already been installed in 110 functional police stations in Arunachal Pradesh.
"In view of the preceding facts, we deem it fit to implead the States of Nagaland and Mizoram in this suo moto PIL. Copies of the proceedings undertaken so far, including the pleadings and affidavits and the orders passed, shall be provided to the learned Additional Advocate General Mrs. T. Khro, representing the State of Nagaland, and the learned Advocate General Mr. D. Das, representing the State of Mizoram," the bench said.
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