Editorial : DNA evidence fine, protect data privacy

The government decision to move ahead with the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill(विनियमन विधेयक), 2018, is a welcome measure(उपाय/मात्रा) that will strengthen(मजबूत बनाना) the criminal justice system. In

the making for the last 15 years, the Bill will, by establishing(स्थापित करना)regulatory institutions and standards for DNA testing, be an important step to bring(लाना) India’s criminal justice system up to date. DNA profiling has proved to be an invaluable (अमूल्य/बहुमूल्य) and basic tool in exonerating(दोषमुक्त) innocents and identifying(शिनाख्त /पहिचानना)) missing persons, besides(अलावा) solving (हल करने क) crimes such as murder, rape, human trafficking, theft (चोरी होना)and burglary.(संधि भेदन/सेंध लगाना) Figures from the National Crime Records Bureau suggest that more than three lakh such crimes take place every year in the country. However, the conviction(दोषसिद्धि/दृढ विश्वास) rate is about 30%. Expanding the use of DNA testing will improve conviction rates, and speed up justice delivery. At the same time, concerns about misuse(गलत इस्तेमाल) and invasion(आक्रमण/धावा) of privacy need to be addressed. Therefore, the language of the Bill specifying(शर्त रखना/विशेष रूप से कहना) whose DNA picked up from a crime scene would be stored should be more specific as to exclude(निकालना/अलग करना) all other than the eventual(अंतिम/मुमकिन) convicts(दोषियों), the data on suspects who are cleared being removed from storage. Under the Bill, the DNA profiling(रूपरेखा/एक ओर का चित्र बनाना) board would advise the central and state governments on issues related to DNA laboratories(प्रयोगशालाओं), and make recommendations(सिफारिशें/प्रशंसा) on ethical(नैतिक ) and human rights, including privacy, issues related to DNA testing. The data protection law in the making should override(रद्द करना) the advice of this body.

Of course, DNA profiling would help only if the police maintain(संभालना/क़ायम रखना) the integrity(सत्यनिष्ठा/ईमानदारी) of crime scenes by disallowing(अनुमति न देने) contamination(दूषितकरण). That calls for greater training and behavioural(व्यवहार) change. The success of any advance in investigative(खोजी/जांच पड़ताल करने का) technique depends on how it is wielded. Investigators must keep up with their tools.

Important Vocabulary

1.integrity(सत्यनिष्ठा/ईमानदारी)
Synonyms: honesty, principle, probity, purity, rectitude
Antonyms: deceit, dishonesty, corruption, disgrace, dishonor

2.strengthen(मजबूत बनाना)
Synonyms: bolster, build up, enhance, enlarge, establish
Antonyms: abridge, condense, curtail, decrease, destroy

3.establishing(स्थापित करना)
Synonyms: beginning, building, chartering, constituting, endowing
Antonyms: dissolving, ending, tearing down

4.invaluable (अमूल्य/बहुमूल्य
Synonyms: helpful, valuable, beyond price, costly, dear
Antonyms: useless, worthless

5.burglary.(संधि भेदन/सेंध लगाना)
Synonyms: break-in, crime, heist, larceny, robbery

6.invasion(आक्रमण/धावा)
Synonyms: aggression, assault, breach,, incursion, infiltration
Antonyms: obedience, retreat, surrender, withdrawal

7.specifying(शर्त रखना/विशेष रूप से कहना)
Synonyms: cite, define, determine, enumerate, establish
Antonyms: confuse, destroy, neglect, unsettle, discourage