Government rejects ‘omnibus’ claims of enrolment of NEET-UG protestors’ biometrics on criminal database

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters chant slogans, hold placards and wave national flag as they celebrate the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the National Eligibility cum NEET paper leaks. | Photo Credit: Reuters

The union government has opposed Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim’s “sweeping” assertion that the biometric data of “thousands of protestors” has been enrolled on national criminal databases.

An affidavit filed by the Home Ministry through the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said blanket allegations of indefinite retention, storage and sharing of biometric information were not based on foundational facts.

The NCRB said allegations of violation of fundamental rights to privacy, free speech and expression must be based on factual foundation of the alleged infringement.

The government said the MP has not identified a single biometric record of any identified person which was unlawfully collected at Jantar Mantar, transmitted to NCRB, which had in turn processed or retained the information in breach of any law.

An “omnibus” assertion that biometrics of the NEET-UG protestors were captured and stored cannot substitute for proof that it was actually done, the Home Ministry said.