Rajya Sabha MP A. A. Rahim has moved the Supreme Court against the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) and biometric surveillance tools by the Delhi Police during the NEET-UG paper leak protests at Jantar Mantar.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) argues that the surveillance on students, journalists, and the public through an extensive network of cameras, artificial intelligence-based facial recognition systems and fingerprint identification tools was unconstitutional. He pleaded with the court to restrain the law enforcement agencies from using the FRT and other biometric surveillance measures at peaceful public gatherings and protests until the Parliament enacts a specific law to regulate it.

The litigation argues the surveillance act of the police was unlawful under the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022 and through the Supreme Court’s judgement in the KS Puttaswamy vs Union of India (right to privacy) 2017.

Rahim has also sought the SC to direct authorities to disclose the technologies, databases and private entities involved. The litigation urges permanent deletion of the biometric data of persons not connected to any offence from the databases of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), and the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

The plea urges the SC to establish a system through which affected individuals can access and seek deletion of their biometric information from the aforementioned databases. Private companies which currently hold any biometric data in their possession are also asked to delete it, the petition urges.

The petition alleges the use of real-time facial recognition via the ‘Ikshana’ vehicle and ‘AjnaLens’ smart spectacles, along with fingerprint matching through the ‘Abhigyan’ mobile application, and alleges the involvement of private companies: Aditya Infotech Ltd (CP Plus) and Dimension NXG Pvt Ltd (AjnaLens) in the operation of surveillance tools and in the handling of the public’s biometric data.


A petition challenging the use of surveillance tools by Delhi Police at the recent Jantar Mantar protests has also been filed by former Jawaharlal Nehru University student union president and SFI leader Aishe Ghosh.

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