The criminal procedure (identification) act, 2022
THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (IDENTIFICATION) ACT, 2022

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

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SECTIONS

1. Short title and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Taking of measurement.
4. Collection, storing, preservation of measurements and storing, sharing, dissemination,

destruction and disposal of records.

5. Power of Magistrate to direct a person to give measurements.
6. Resistance to allow taking of measurements.
7. Bar of suit.
8. Power to make rules.
9. Power to remove difficulties.
10. Repeal and saving.

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THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (IDENTIFICATION) ACT, 2022

ACT NO. 11 OF 2022

[18th April, 2022.]

# An Act to authorise for taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of
 identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

**1. Short title and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the Criminal Procedure**

(Identification) Act, 2022.

(2) It shall come into force on such date[1] as the Central Government may, by notification in the

Official Gazette, appoint.

**2. Definitions. — (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—**

(a) “Magistrate” means,—

(i) in relation to a metropolitan area, the Metropolitan Magistrate;

(ii) in relation to any other area, the Judicial Magistrate of the first class; or

(iii) in relation to ordering someone to give security for his good behaviour or maintaining

peace, the Executive Magistrate;

(b) “measurements” includes finger-impressions, palm-print impressions, foot-print

impressions, photographs, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis,
behavioural attributes including signatures, handwriting or any other examination referred to in
section 53 or section 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974);

(c) “police officer” means the officer-in-charge of a police station or an officer not below the

rank of Head Constable;

(d) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(e) “prison officer” means an officer of prison not below the rank of Head Warder.

(2) Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Indian Penal Code (45 of

1860) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) shall have the same meanings
respectively assigned to them in those Codes.

**3. Taking of measurement. —Any person, who has been,—**

(a) convicted of an offence punishable under any law for the time being in force; or

(b) ordered to give security for his good behaviour or maintaining peace under

section 117 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) for a proceeding under
section 107 or section 108 or section 109 or section 110 of the said Code; or

(c) arrested in connection with an offence punishable under any law for the time being in force

or detained under any preventive detention law,

1. 4th August, 2022, vide notification No. S.O. 3653(E), dated 3rd August, 2022, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II,

sec. 3(ii).

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shall, if so required, allow his measurement to be taken by a police officer or a prison officer in such
manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government or the State Government:

Provided that any person arrested for an offence committed under any law for the time being in

force (except for an offence committed against a woman or a child or for any offence punishable with
imprisonment for a period not less than seven years) may not be obliged to allow taking of his
biological samples under the provisions of this section.

**4. Collection, storing, preservation of measurements and storing, sharing, dissemination,**

**destruction and disposal of records. — (1) The National Crime Records Bureau shall, in the interest**
of prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of any offence under any law for the time being
in force,—

(a) collect the record of measurements from State Government or Union territory

Administration or any other law enforcement agencies;

(b) store, preserve and destroy the record of measurements at national level;

(c) process such record with relevant crime and criminal records; and

(d) share and disseminate such records with any law enforcement agency,

in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The record of measurements shall be retained in digital or electronic form for a period of

seventy-five years from the date of collection of such measurement:

Provided that where any person, who has not been previously convicted of an offence punishable

under any law with imprisonment for any term, has had his measurements taken according to the
provisions of this Act, is released without trial or discharged or acquitted by the court, after exhausting
all legal remedies, all records of measurements so taken shall, unless the court or Magistrate, for
reasons to be recorded in writing otherwise directs, be destroyed from records.

(3) The State Government and Union territory Administration may notify an appropriate agency to

collect, preserve and share the measurements in their respective jurisdictions.

**5. Power of Magistrate to direct a person to give measurements.—Where the Magistrate is**

satisfied that, for the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or any other law for the time being in force, it is expedient to direct any
person to give measurements under this Act, the Magistrate may make an order to that effect and in
that case, the person to whom the order relates shall allow the measurements to be taken in conformity
with such directions.

**6. Resistance to allow taking of measurements.— (1) If any person who is required to allow the**

measurements to be taken under this Act resists or refuses to allow taking of such measurements, it
shall be lawful for the police officer or prison officer to take such measurements in such manner as
may be prescribed.

(2) Resistance to or refusal to allow the taking of measurements under this Act shall be deemed to

be an offence under section 186 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

**7. Bar of suit.— No suit or any other proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done, or**

intended to be done in good faith under this Act or any rule made thereunder.

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**8. Power to make rules.— (1) The Central Government or the State Government may, by**

notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, such rules

may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—

(a) the manner of taking measurements under section 3;

(b) the manner of collection, storing, preservation of measurements and sharing,

dissemination, destruction and disposal of records under sub-section (1) of section 4;

(c) the manner of taking of measurements under sub-section (1) of section 6;

(d) any other matter which is to be prescribed, or in respect of which provision is to be made.

(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be

after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days
which may be comprised in one session or two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry
of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses
agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made,
the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be;
so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of
anything previously done under that rule.

(4) Every rule made by the State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after

it is made, before each House of the State Legislature where it consists of two Houses, or where such
Legislature consists of one House, before that House.

**9.** **Power to remove difficulties.— (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of**

this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such
provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as appear to it to be necessary for removing
the difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of three years from

the commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before

each House of Parliament.

**10. Repeal and saving.— (1) The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 (33 of 1920) is hereby**

repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken or purported to have done or

taken including any rule, regulation, or any proceedings taken, any rule made or any direction given or
any proceedings taken or any penalty or fine imposed under the repealed Act shall, in so far as it is not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under the
corresponding provisions of this Act.

(3) The mention of particular matters in sub-section (2) shall not be held to prejudice or affect the

general application of section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897) with regard to the effect
of repeal.

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