The DNA Technology Regulation Bill that seeks to control the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of a person, has been referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination. The bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkiah Naidu.
Sources in the Lok Sabha Secretariat said the bill that seeks to control the use and application of the DNA technology for establishing the identity of certain categories of persons, including offenders, victims, suspects and under-trials, was passed by the Lok Sabha in July this year. The bill provides for the establishment of DNA data banks at the national and regional levels.
The chairman of the committee, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, has invited suggestions from the public on the bill. A similar bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in January last year but it could not be cleared in the Rajya Sabha. The bill had then lapsed with the dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha.