The bill was first introduced in Parliament two years ago and until recently, it was under review by a standing committee whose report flagged concerns of possible misuse of DNA information. The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 has been listed for 'consideration and passing' in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Lok Sabha, according to a bulletin uploaded on the Lok Sabha website yesterday. The bill which was first introduced in Parliament in July 2019, seeks to regulate the use of DNA technology to establish the identity of persons in relation to criminal matters and civil matters. It was subsequently referred to the Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh-headed Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests. The committee tabled its report on the bill in the Lok Sabha on February 3, 2021. Why it matters? In its report, the Standing Committee flagged some concerns around the possibility of misuse of DNA technology; however, it also said that such legislation is needed since DNA technology is already in use in the country. These fears are not “entirely unfounded”, and it does not “negate the need” for such a law especially when DNA technology is already in use, the Committee’s report said. “In fact, its (DNA technology) use in recent months has exposed a false encounter in which innocents were killed contradicting initial claims made that they were militants,” the Committee added. What the DNA Technology Bill entails The bill proposes the following: Creation of a National DNA Data Bank…
