The Supreme Court of India on Monday described a petition seeking the establishment of a national DNA and biometric identification system for missing and rescued children as “very sensitive.” A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi has directed the petitioner to conduct thorough research and propose a collaborative framework that could bring various child protection institutions onto a single platform for more effective reunification.
During the proceedings, the bench emphasized the gravity of the issue, noting the complexities involved in identifying and restoring the identities of children rescued from trafficking or abandonment.
“The issue is definitely very, very sensitive,” Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked. Addressing the petitioner’s counsel, the CJI added, “You ask your juniors to do a little homework and give us a framework as to what should be the solution. Think how there can be a collaborative mechanism and how different institutions can be brought on a common platform.”
The court has granted the petitioner four weeks to submit a detailed proposal outlining how such a system could function effectively while maintaining statutory safeguards.
The plea at the center of the hearing advocates for a centralized, real-time national framework. It calls for the integration and interoperability of all existing child protection databases, which are currently fragmented across police records, shelter homes, child welfare committees (CWCs), and anti-human trafficking units.
Key demands raised in the petition include:
- Mandatory DNA Sampling: DNA testing of all unidentified rescued children and willing biological parents, subject to strict consent protocols and privacy safeguards.
- National Task Force: The constitution of national and state-level child protection and anti-trafficking task forces to ensure mandatory inter-state coordination and time-bound investigations.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): The notification of official SOPs for tracing, DNA testing, reunification, rehabilitation, and long-term monitoring of rescued children.
The petition argues that scientific matching through DNA and biometrics is essential for the accurate restoration of identity, particularly in cases where children are too young or traumatized to provide details about their origins. By creating a unified platform, the petitioner aims to bridge the gap between various state and central authorities, ensuring that a child rescued in one state can be swiftly matched with a missing person report filed in another.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for four weeks from now, by which time the petitioner is expected to present the requested framework for the court’s consideration.
