Karnataka Police have established a procedure to identify unidentified bodies using Aadhaar data, effective from 2018 through 2026. The process mandates that investigators exhaust other identification methods and wait at least 72 hours after recovering the body before requesting Aadhaar-based identification, according to medianama.com.
The guidelines require investigators to first search missing-person records and circulate information across police networks. Identification methods such as fingerprints, facial recognition, DNA matching, and examination of personal belongings, scars, or tattoos must be used. If the person remains unidentified after 72 hours, the investigating officer submits a report to the Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police, explaining the need for Aadhaar-based identification. The request is then scrutinized by a State Police Nodal Officer and forwarded to the Union Home Ministry and UIDAI for approval.
The rules prohibit bulk searches of the Aadhaar database, requiring each request to be case-specific and justified. This approach aims to balance the need for identification with privacy concerns under Section 33 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. The Directorate of Forensic Sciences has issued these guidelines to streamline the process while safeguarding individual data, as reported by medianama.com.
The procedure ensures that Aadhaar-based identification is a last resort after conventional methods fail, with oversight from senior police officials and the Union Home Ministry. This framework reflects a structured approach to handling sensitive biometric data in forensic investigations in Karnataka.