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DNA Legislations, Challenges, and Opportunities

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Handbook of DNA Forensic Applications and Interpretation

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Abstract

DNA profiling technology is based on proven scientific principles. It has been found to be very effective for social welfare, particularly in providing justice to the aggrieved and hel** in identifying the criminals. DNA tests would definitely constitute corroborative evidence. The present legal study deals with the development of DNA technology and its applications. It explores the current international, ethical and national guidelines. The second part examines specific implications under various legislations of India like the Constitution of India, The Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Criminal Procedure Code 1973, The Indian Penal Code 1860, Identification of Prisoner’s Act 1920, to Transplantation of the Human Organs Act 1994, Patent Laws, Indian Succession Act, 1925, Family Laws, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971. It also explains DNA Fingerprinting, Stem cell and Human Genome projects. The third part of the study discusses the role of judiciary in admitting DNA technology in criminal cases. The fourth part critically evaluates the DNA legislations in other countries/DNA technology in different countries and international human rights aspect. The list includes countries such as UK, USA, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, Algeria, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, South Africa Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The law for enabling DNA identification has been passed by parliaments of more than sixty nations around the world. The last part concludes with challenges and opportunities in making DNA application technology more effective.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In re assessment of the criminal vs SMW (CRL.) No(s).04 of 2019 (18 Dec, 2019).

  2. 2.

    Giles Newton, discovering DNA fingerprinting, Wellcome Trust, April 4, 2004, http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_wtd020877.html.

  3. 3.

    Mark A. Rothstein & Sandra Carnahan, Legal and policy issues in expanding the scope of law enforcement DNA data banks, 67 Brook. L. Rev. 127, 127 (2001).

  4. 4.

    National institute of justice, the future of forensic DNA testing: predictions of the research and development working group 14–15 (November 2000) [hereinafter NIJ], available at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183697.pdf. These DNA fingerprints also exonerated a suspect in the case.

  5. 5.

    See: Sonia M. Suter: All in the family: privacy and DNA familial search in: Harvard journal of law & technology Volume 23, Number 2, Springer 2010.

  6. 6.

    Ian W. Evett, et al., DNA profiling: a discussion of issues relating to the reporting of very small match probabilities, 2000 Cri. L.R. 341.

  7. 7.

    2018 SCC Online SC 650 on 2 July, 2018.

  8. 8.

    (1978) 3 SCC 435.

  9. 9.

    Organisation of American States, American convention on Human Rights Art. 11, November 21, 1969 O.A.S.T.S. No. 36, 1144 U.N.TS. 123 (entered into force July 18, 1978).

  10. 10.

    Cairo declaration on Human Rights in Islam, Art.18 U.N.GAOR, 4th, Sess., Agenda Item 5, U.N. Doc. A/CONF.157/PC/62/Add18 (August 5, 1990).

  11. 11.

    European convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Art. 5, November 4, 1950, 213, U.N.T.S. 222 (entered into force September 3, 1953) as amended by protocols nos. 3, 5, 8 and 11 (entered into force September 21, 1970; December, 20, 1971; January 1 1990; and November 1 1998 respectively).

  12. 12.

    Law Commission Report No. 271 of Government of India, July 2017.

  13. 13.

    The issue of establishing the identity of victims of a mass disaster, has been examined. Mass disasters can involve natural (e.g. earth quakes, volcano eruptions, avalanches, hurricanes, and tsunamis) or non-natural catastrophes (e.g. transportation accidents, terrorist attacks, wars, or political upheaval). In this regard, the ISFG made certain recommendations on the role of forensic genetics in cases of DVI.

  14. 14.

    Law Commission Report No. 271 of Government of India, July 2017.

  15. 15.

    Daubart v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticalst Inc., 113 S Ct 2786 (1993).

  16. 16.

    Frye v. United States, 293 F 1013 (DC Cir 1923).

  17. 17.

    Daubert, 1.

  18. 18.

    Daubert, 1 case in health law daubert and expert testimony by Allison Grady, ethics journal of the american medical association February 2006, Volume 8, Number 2:97–100.

  19. 19.

    447NW422, Minn (1989), 144 misc. 2d 956, 545 N.Y.S.2d 985 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1989). Also See- Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael. 526 U.S. 137 (1999).

  20. 20.

    293 F. 1013 (D.C. cir. 1923).

  21. 21.

    Ramakant Gupta, Gwati Gupta, Manju Gupta journey of DNA evidence in legal arena: an insight on its legal perspective worldwide and highlight on admissibility in Indian journal of forensic science & medicine.

  22. 22.

    223 Scr. 2d 6E (Fla. app. 1968).

  23. 23.

    Ramakant Gupta, Gwati Gupta, Manju Gupta journey of DNA evidence in legal Arena: an insight on its legal perspective worldwide and highlight on admissibility in Indian journal of forensic science & medicine.

  24. 24.

    DNA evidence: basis of identification, gathering and transporting. Reading material of course on advancing justice through DNA technology LNJN national institute of criminology and forensic science.

  25. 25.

    29.(1993) 125 L. Ed. 26. 469.

  26. 26.

    Ibid.

  27. 27.

    A. P. Singh: admissibility of DNA in indian legal system journal of legal studies and research of the law Brigade publishers. Journal of legal studies and research March 14, 2019.

  28. 28.

    R. V. Mohan, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 9 (Supreme Court of Canada).

  29. 29.

    Glancy and Bradford, J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 35:350–6, 2007): The admissibility of expert evidence in Canada.

  30. 30.

    Pitluck HM, DNA evidence will be admissible if the proper foundation is laid: advice for a forensic medicine expert. Croat Med J 2001;42:221–4.

  31. 31.

    Justice Peter McClellan: admissibility of expert evidence under the Uniform Evidence Act.

  32. 32.

    Gupta R, Gupta S, Gupta M, Journey of DNA evidence in legal arena: an insight on its legal perspective worldwide and highlight on admissibility in India. J Forensic Sci Med 2016;2:102–106.

  33. 33.

    Mohd. Hasan Zaidi & Yashpal Singh, DNA tests in criminal investigation, trial and paternity disputes. p. 3.

  34. 34.

    Home Ministry examines amendments to Identification of Prisoners Act: Rahul Tripathi, ET Burea: September 13, 2020.

  35. 35.

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1579521.

  36. 36.

    Home Ministry examines amendments to Identification of Prisoners Act. Rahul Tripathi, ET Burea: September 13, 2020.

  37. 37.

    Ritesh Sinha vs. The State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr. criminal appeal no. 2003 of 2012 Supreme Court.

  38. 38.

    Malimath Committee Report on Reform of Criminal Justice System, 2003.

  39. 39.

    Subs. By Cr.P.C. (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Act No. 25 of 2005), June 23, 2005.

  40. 40.

    Ins. by Cr.P.C. (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Act No. 25 of 2005), dated 23.06.2005.

  41. 41.

    Section 54 amended by Cr. P.C. (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Act No. 25 of 2005), dated 23.06.2005.

  42. 42.

    Ins. by Cr. P.C. (Amendment) Act, 2005 (Act No. 25 of 2005).

  43. 43.

    Dharam Deo Yadav v. State of U.P., 2005 DNR (HC) 675.

  44. 44.

    Sharda v. Dharampal, AIR 2003 SC 3450.

  45. 45.

    It received the president’s assent on August 11, 2018 and was notified, to be effective from April 21, 2018.

  46. 46.

    Akash R. Goswami: Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2018.

  47. 47.

    Section 151, Order XXXII r-15, Order XXXVI Rule -10-A.

  48. 48.

    As there is no direct law or legislation in India authorising courts to direct the parties to the civil case to go for blood test or to undergo DNA test, as it clashes with constitutional provisions such as right to life, privacy, against self-incrimination etc. in India. So the give provision can be applied as an exception to the rule.

  49. 49.

    http://www.prsindia.org/sites/default/files/bill_files/DNA%20Technology%20%28Use%20and%20Application%29%20Regulation%20Bill%2C%202018%20Bill%20Text.pdf.

  50. 50.

    (2010) 7 SCC 263; AIR 2010 SC 1974.

  51. 51.

    Guidelines for the Administration of Polygraph Test (Lie Detector Test) on an accused in 2000.

  52. 52.

    Buridi Vanajakshmi v. Buridi Venkata Satya Varah Prasad Gangadhar Rao (AIR2010 Andhra Pradesh 172).

  53. 53.

    2010(1) SCJ1(SC): (AIR2009sc(Supp)2951).

  54. 54.

    AIR 1954 SC 297 at 306: 1954 Cri LJ 865 (para 18).

  55. 55.

    AIR 1963 SC 1295: 1963 (2) Cri LJ 329 (para 20).

  56. 56.

    AIR 1995 SC 264: 1964 AIR SCW 4420.

  57. 57.

    AIR 1975 SC 1378: 1975 Cri LJ 320.

  58. 58.

    (1998) 8 SCC 296: AIR 1999 SC 495: 1998 AIR SCW 3662.

  59. 59.

    (2003) 1 SCC 500: AIR 2003 SC 664: 2002 AIR SCW 5335.

  60. 60.

    AIR 2001 AP 502: 2002 AIHC 475.

  61. 61.

    AIDS Law Today Scott Burry and others, published by Yale University, 1993.

  62. 62.

    Id. Para 345.

  63. 63.

    Id. Para 17.

  64. 64.

    (2014) 5 SCC353.

  65. 65.

    2007 CriLJ 4008.

  66. 66.

    AIR1999SC2640.

  67. 67.

    https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/rajiv-gandhi-killing-to-delhi-bus-gangrape-how-dna-helped-investigators, Express News Service, December 12, 2017.

  68. 68.

    (2011) 4 SCC 80.

  69. 69.

    (2012) 12 SCC 554.

  70. 70.

    (2017) 10 SCC 1; AIR 2017 SC 4161 (para 415).

  71. 71.

    1978(2) SCC 424.

  72. 72.

    Margarita Guillén, María Victoria Lareu, Carmela Pestoni, Antonio Salas and Angel Carracedo University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain: Ethical-legal problems of DNA databases in criminal investigation, journal of medical ethics 2000;26:266–271.

  73. 73.

    Report no.271 of law commission, Government of India human DNA profiling – a draft bill for the use and regulation of DNA-based technology dated 17/July/2021 (July 2017).

  74. 74.

    Ibid.

  75. 75.

    King, Elizabeth B. Ludwin (2011) “A conflict of interests: privacy, truth, and compulsory DNA testing for Argentina’s children of the disappeared”, Cornell international law journal: Vol. 44 : No. 3, Article 3.

  76. 76.

    Machado and Silva: Forensic DNA in Portugal: Sociology 52, 14 July 2010.

  77. 77.

    Trevor R. Mcdonald: Genetic justice: DNA evidence and the criminal law in Canada: Manitoba law journal, Vol 26, no 1, page 21.

  78. 78.

    Mashima J, Kodama Y, Kosuge T, Fujisawa T, Katayama T, Nagasaki H, Okuda Y, Kaminuma E, Ogasawara O, Okubo K et al. (2016) DNA data bank of Japan (DDBJ) progress report. Nucleic Acids Res., 44, D51–D57. http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp.

  79. 79.

    On bodily examination and samples as a means of identification (1978).

  80. 80.

    Ale Roux-Kemp: forensic DNA databases in Hong Kong and China: a brics comparative perspective: indiana international & comparative law review. August 2018.

  81. 81.

    Kumar S et al. Current scenario of forensic DNA databases in or outside India and their relative risk, Egypt J Forensic Sci (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejfs.2015.03.002.

  82. 82.

    Above chart quoted from an unpublished DNA investigation project work of Author, Dr Lily Srivastava.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sri JNMPG College, Lucknow University, Lucknow, India

    Lily Srivastava

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  1. Lily Srivastava
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. BioAxis DNA Research Centre Private Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Amit Kumar

  2. Inspector General of Police & Joint Director Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), New Delhi, India

    G. K. Goswami

  3. HUFFINE INTERNATIONAL, Oklahoma, OK, USA

    Edwin Huffine

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Srivastava, L. (2022). DNA Legislations, Challenges, and Opportunities. In: Kumar, A., Goswami, G.K., Huffine, E. (eds) Handbook of DNA Forensic Applications and Interpretation . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0043-3_10

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