In a significant development, the Supreme Court has taken cognizance of a petition urging the creation of a comprehensive DNA database to facilitate the identification of missing persons and unclaimed bodies nationwide. The bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, has sought responses from the Centre, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and other concerned authorities within four weeks.

The petitioner, advocate K C Jain, presented the case before the apex court, highlighting the government's assurance in 2018 to introduce a bill for DNA profiling. This legislation aimed to maintain records of unidentified and unclaimed deceased individuals or missing persons. However, Jain informed the court that the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019, which was crucial for regulating DNA technology to identify individuals, was withdrawn from the Lok Sabha in July the previous year.

Expressing concern over the lack of progress in implementing measures to address this issue, Jain emphasized the potential of DNA profiling in resolving cases involving unidentified bodies and missing persons. The petitioner stressed that the technology could play a crucial role in matching the DNA profiles of unidentified bodies with those of missing persons, providing closure to families and aiding law enforcement in solving crimes.

This is not the first instance where the Supreme Court has taken notice of the matter. In 2014, the apex court had issued a notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in response to a petition filed by a non-governmental organization (NGO). The NGO highlighted the challenges posed by traditional identification methods for bodies, leading to perpetrators going untraced and families being left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The NGO's plea underscored that, despite the government considering the proposal for DNA profiling of unidentified bodies since 2007, no concrete decision had been taken to implement such a crucial system.

The establishment of a DNA database for identifying missing persons and unclaimed bodies holds the promise of revolutionizing law enforcement efforts, ensuring justice, and bringing closure to families affected by such cases.