8559 - Home ministry plans database of jail inmates' fingerprints, critics say it's a violation of rights - First Post

Home ministry plans database of jail inmates' fingerprints, critics say it's a violation of rights

by Neerad Pandharipande  Aug 17, 2015 14:35 IST

Less than a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for enrolment of prisoners under the the Aadhaar scheme, the home ministry has decided to establish a national database of fingerprints by collating records held by all states, the Economic Times reported on Monday.

According to the report, this is meant to help in “speedy identification of criminals and investigation of crimes.” The database is to contain fingerprints of convicts and undertrials alike.

The database is said to include fingerprint details of 28 lakh convicts as well as those arrested for criminal offences. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is reported to have created a cloud system for the integration of the data from different states.

Presently, while prisons record an inmate's fingerprints at the time of entry into a jail, this information is not centrally available to other entities.

However, critics of the scheme argue that the central database can be a violation of an undertrial's rights.

“There is a possibility of misuse of such data by authorities, and creating a database like this can lead to prisoners unwillingly giving evidence against themselves in criminal cases,” senior lawyer Mihir Desai said.

Desai had earlier argued on behalf of a petition that had questioned the lack of safeguards in the UID scheme.

"Particularly in the case of under trial prisoners, such a database can constitute a violation of their legal rights and privacy. This can run contrary to the principle of a person being considered innocent until proven guilty and can lead to the police framing persons who have been arrested earlier in cases where they are not otherwise able to find evidence," Vijay Raghavan, professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' Centre for Criminology and Justice, said.

In September last year, PM Modi had asked the home ministry and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to ensure enrolment of prisoners across the country.

A Times of India report had quoted a government source as saying that the initiative was meant to ensure that prisoners and their families are not denied their rights and entitlements under welfare schemes.

Days later, a home ministry communication was issued saying that local UIDAI authorities should be approached for initiating the enrolment drive in prisons. While claiming that the enrolment would be voluntary, the communication also stated: 

“Moreover, the data so collected by the UIDAI is not meant for use by the correctional home and is only for the provision of an Aadhaar card to enable the re-integration of the UTP (undertrial prisoner) or convict on release.” (A link to the home ministry communication is available here.)

8488 - Won’t get clicked in prisoners’ white, say inmates - Bangalore Morror

Won’t get clicked in prisoners’ white, say inmates

By Kushala S, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Aug 11, 2015, 04.00 AM IST

We don't want to get photographed for the Aadhaar card in white dress, it will show us as prisoners. We don't want Aadhaar enrollment, it will carry our details as criminals.

Our details will get into the system and we don't want to be tracked.

These were the reservations of prisoners when Aadhaar enrollment authorities set up units in Parappana Agrahara Central prison to enroll prisoners. The dress and photographs being the main concerns, the prisoners were not willing to come under the permanent radar of the authorities with their data stored in the government's repository.

How did they come around?

After much counseling and agreeing to change their shirts for the photograph session!

The 60 prisons in the state house nearly 14,209 prisoners and so far 14,148 prisoners have been enrolled.

Parappana Agrahara central prison houses the largest number of prisoners, 4,439.

The Centre for e-Governance which is handling the Aadhaar enrollments has appointed private companies for the job. The enrollment at Parappana Agrahara got completed recently and it was quite a task for the agency executives who had installed two units. Prisoners started resenting against getting photographed in their white uniforms. "Prisoners raised a fuss over the white uniform as their photographs would easily give out their identify as convicts. We convinced them and finally brought in two bright-coloured shirts for the enrollment sessions. We also gave an option to the prisoners to wear their own coloured clothes. And many of them did. Others would come into the enrollment unit, change their white shirt, wear the spare shirt and sit before the monitor,'' says an official who handled the project.

The women convicts also changed their white sarees into colour sarees and got through the enrollment process.

According to senior officials, Aadhaar is also a way to keep track of the law breakers and enrolment of prisoners was taken up as high priority. "In future, when all essential services including flight and train bookings, bank accounts, are linked to Aadhaar numbers, the whereabouts of criminals will be under the scanner. With the police department using Aadhaar authentication, after their release from the prison, convict and under-trials will be tracked,'' explained the official.

Identity crisis

The 60 prisons in the state house nearly 14,209 prisoners and so far 14,148 prisoners have been enrolled.

Parappana Agrahara central prison houses the largest number of prisoners, 4,439.

How will it help?

Aadhaar is also a way to keep track of the law breakers and enrolment of prisoners was taken up as high priority.

It is a tracking mechanism 

In future, when all essential services including flight and train bookings, bank accounts, are linked to Aadhaar numbers, the whereabouts of criminals will be under the scanner. With the police department using Aadhaar authentication, after their release from the prison, convict and under-trials will be tracked.

Prisoner benefit

Once the prisoners get their Aadhaar cards, their families could use the card as a proof to obtained BPL cards and gas connections.

The Aadhaar number can be used as proof of address.

Aadhaar acknowledgment slip can be used by inmates to move bail application

5905 - 1,000 prisoners enrol for Aadhaar -

BANGALORE, October 26, 2014

Updated: October 26, 2014 23:17 IST

1,000 prisoners enrol for Aadhaar

Over 1,000 prisoners from the Bangalore Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara have enrolled for Aadhaar cards.

The prison authorities coordinated with the Unique Identification Authority of India to set up a kiosk inside the prison to enrol undertrials and convicts.

“Aadhaar card has become an important requisite for various purposes. The process to enrol the remaining 3,000 prisoners is on,” said Jayasimha, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons.

As part of the process, the prison staff have to provide the residential address of the inmates from the police and prison records. This rules out the possibility of discrepancies since police officials would have examined the residential address personally, he said.

He said that the card would not only act as an identity proof, but also help the inmates avail benefits they are entitled to once they are released from prison.

Tracing tool

Citing an example, Mr. Jayasimha said since Aadhaar has become mandatory, the inmates could use them to avail themselves of a loan or employment.

Additional Director-General of Police (Prison) K.V. Gagandeep said the Aadhaar scheme would soon be extended to other prisons across the State. Apart from making prisoners feel part of society, the cards will also serve as a tracing mechanism for the police if prisoners go back to a life of crime after they are released, he said.

5877 - Now, Aadhaar enrolment in prisons - Deccan Herald

Now, Aadhaar enrolment in prisons

New Delhi, Oct 17, 2014, DHNS:

 Prisoners could now get ‘Aadhaar’ card without hassle with the Centre asking states to approach local Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) officials for conducting enrolment drives in jails.

The move comes with efforts to increase the enrolment rate of UIDAI. In identical letters to secretaries in states dealing with Home department and prisons, and directors-general of jails, the Home Ministry said that it would be of “immense utility” to offer this service to them as a welfare measure when they are released from jails.

It said a number of inmates might have missed the enrolment process earlier and it would be of great help for them if such drives were conducted in jails. Tihar Jail in New Delhi has already started enrolment process and has received a “very good” response. The ministry reminded officials that the enrolment is “entirely voluntary”.

5808 - PM wants prisoners to have Aadhar cards

PM wants prisoners to have Aadhar cards

TNN | Sep 24, 2014, 02.51AM IST

NEW DELHI: All prisoners languishing in various jails across the country would be given Aadhar cards. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Union home ministry and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to ensure enrollment of all inmates across the country. 

A government source said that the plan to issue Aadhar numbers would help to ensure that prisoners and their families are not denied their rights and entitlements under welfare schemes. 

He added, "This would also create a secure database for prisoners that would help in more effective tracking." 

An official said that the specific direction from PM to Union home ministry would help to bring state governments on board without whose support UIDAI could not set up enrollment camps in prisons across the country. 

A highly-placed source told TOI that Prime Minister in a meeting with key government officials expressed his eagerness for completion of enrollment of all 1.2 billion residents of the country as soon as possible. 

"He wanted faster completion of the entire enrollment process," she said. 

PM also directed the external affairs ministry to use Aadhar number for issuing of passports so that biometric data collected by UIDAI could be utilised. Modi was not happy with current practice of passports offices taking applicants biometric details which are of no utility as they cannot be de-duplicated. 

"He was convinced that use of Aadhar would prevent duplication of work," said an official, adding that Aadhaar already has biometric details of more than half of the population so there is no point in passport office repeating it. 

PM also desired to link financial inclusion scheme, Jan Dhan Yojana, with Aadhaar to check leakages and corruption. 

The Aadhar enabled bank accounts would prevent the possibility of opening fake accounts to claim the benefits. 

The scheme is aimed at opening bank accounts for the poor, provides for accident insurance cover of one lakh rupees, medical insurance of Rs 30,000 with a free debit card for those who open accounts before January 26, 2015. 

After Modi's nudge, the Union Cabinet had cleared Rs 1200 crore fund for UIDAI to fast-track roll out of Aadhaar in four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, which were lagging behind in enrollment. 

Modi has given the target of enrolling one billion by the end of next year. The UIDAI has to speed up the process in UP and has enrolled one-fourth of the population (more than five crore against a population of 19.95 crore). 

The authority has been enrolling at present more than 2.5 lakh residents per day through over 5000 centres in 69 districts. 

With the 68 crore resident database, the Aadhaar identity platform has been serving users ranging from MNREGA workers, PDS, remittance and scholarship beneficiaries, etc. - all using their Aadhaar number to avail benefits through authentication.

5762 - PM asks Plan panel to enrol inmates under Aadhaar - Indian Express

PM asks Plan panel to enrol inmates under Aadhaar

Written by Ruhi Tewari | New Delhi | August 6, 2014 2:30 am

SUMMARY

This is yet another instance of the PM’s re-iteration of faith in the UPA government’s Aadhaar project.

In a move that could have widespread implications for enabling both effective tracking as well as inclusion of prisoners, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Planning Commission to ensure enrolment of all inmates across the country under Aadhaar.

According to government officials, the PMO desired that all prisoners be brought under the ambit of Aadhaar, even though no specific time-frame was mentioned. 

This is yet another instance of the PM’s re-iteration of faith in the UPA government’s Aadhaar project. Previously, Modi had told the UIDAI to meet a 100-crore enrolment target at the “earliest”. The PMO had also issued a directive to the Planning Commission to collect data for Aadhaar and Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme in 300 priority districts and submit a status report by August 15.

So far, some states, including Gujarat, have taken the initiative to enrol prisoners under Aadhaar. The Gujarat High Court had earlier this year asked the state to issue Aadhaar cards to all inmates, in response to an application filed by Ahmedabad resident Shobhanaben Vaghela, who sought bail for her husband Prakash so that he could get an Aadhaar card and his family could ensure supply of cooking gas.

According to sources, while the exact intent behind this move is not clear, it is likely to serve a two-fold purpose of creating a secure database for prisoners to enable more effective tracking as well as ensuring their inclusion. Officials say there is an understanding that at a time when Aadhaar and subsequently the Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme is receiving much push, it would be “unfair” to leave prisoners out. Aadhaar enrolment can be an “enabler” for prisoners and their families to receive the benefits of several schemes dependent on it, say sources.

To achieve this, the task is expected to be assigned to state governments who, through registrars of UIDAI, would be required to set-up enrolment camps across prisons. Officials say since an address proof is required for Aadhaar, it is being considered that prisoners be allowed to give their respective prisons as the address, leaving them with the option of updating it to their permanent residence when released.

5333 - Gujarat govt issues Aadhar cards to 3,723 prisoners - TNN

Gujarat govt issues Aadhar cards to 3,723 prisoners

Saeed Khan,TNN | Mar 19, 2014, 09.44 PM IST

AHMEDABAD: On Gujarat high court's instructions, Gujarat government has started issuing Aadhar cards to jail inmates having Indian nationality. 

In a month, the government machinery has successfully issued Aadhar cards to some 3,723 prisoners out of total 11,650 prisoners lodged in jails across the state. The state government has informed the high court that the process of issuing the unique identity cards is underway and the jail administration has called for relevant documents from other prisoners so that the formalities in this regard could be completed as early as possible. 

There are total 12,123 inmates across Gujarat's jails, and 11,650 prisoners have been found eligible to be issued Aadhar cards. Since the process is on, the HC has kept April 22 for reporting further progress. 

The high court ordered for arranging issuance of these cards to prisoners in response to an application filed by Ahmedabad's resident, Shobhanaben Vaghela, who sought bail for her husband Prakash so that the family could ensure supply of cooking gas on basis of Aadhar card. She submitted that without the card issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India, the family would not be able to get benefit of the government scheme. Following this, the gas agency ensured the court that it would not stop gas supply. 

However, to resolve the issue for all prisoners that are in courts' custody, the HC asked home department and revenue department to undertake a mechanism for preparation of Aadhar card of the convicts and undertrial prisoners.

5196 - Gujarat high court asks govt to issue Aadhar cards to all prisoners - TNN

Gujarat high court asks govt to issue Aadhar cards to all prisoners

Saeed Khan, TNN | Feb 13, 2014, 01.54PM IST

AHMEDABAD: All prisoners of Indian nationality out of the total of 12,123 inmates across Gujarat's jails will get Aadhaar cards in prisons within a month. The state government has assured Gujarat high court that arrangements would be made in prisons to issue these cards inside the jail premises only. 

After the court inquired whether the government could issue Aadhaar cards to inmates in prisons, the government said that systems would be set as soon as possible and arrangement for issuing cards would be completed by March 15. 

The court has sought progress report from the government on March 18. 

The high court intervened in this issue in response to an application filed by a prisoner's wife seeking his release for a few days so as they could obtain the Aadhaar card. 

Ahmedabad's resident, Shobhanaben Vaghela approached the HC requesting it to grant bail to her husband Prakash. She submitted that the gas connection is in her husband's name, and without the Aadhaar card, the family, which is already in financial distress, does not get subsidized gas cylinders. She submitted that the gas dealer Sarathi Gas Agency refused to give them cylinders at subsidized rate. It was also submitted that without the card issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India, the family would not be able to get benefit of the government scheme. 

Following this application, the court asked home department and revenue department to undertake any mechanism for preparation of Aadhaar card of the convicts and undertrial prisoners, whose numbers are more than 12,000.