Karnataka implements Aadhaar-based body identification
Karnataka Police have introduced a procedure for identifying unidentified bodies using Aadhaar. Aadhaar-based identification can only be requested after other methods are exhausted and a 72-hour waiting period has passed.
Karnataka Police have established a new procedure for identifying unidentified bodies by leveraging India's Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) and the Aadhaar system. Authorities can only seek Aadhaar-based identification after all other methods have been exhausted and at least 72 hours have passed since the body's recovery. The guidelines aim to create a uniform process for documenting unidentified bodies and preserving evidence.
Under the new procedure, investigators must first check missing person records and circulate information about the body across police networks. They must also employ traditional identification methods, including fingerprints, facial recognition, and DNA analysis, as well as examine personal belongings, scars, and tattoos. Only if the person remains unidentified after 72 hours can the investigating officer submit a justified request for Aadhaar-based identification.
Requests will be processed at a higher level, requiring approval from the Union Home Ministry. The guidelines prohibit bulk searches of the Aadhaar database, with each request needing to be specific to an individual case and justified. This development follows years of debate surrounding the use of the Aadhaar database for identifying bodies and tracing missing persons.
The proposal for Aadhaar-based identification was first put forward in 2018, and the matter has also seen judicial review. In 2018, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, and the Karnataka High Court has since addressed the issue. A similar situation occurred in Gujarat, where a court allowed targeted disclosure of Aadhaar information to trace a missing person under exceptional circumstances.