Forensic Access to Aadhaar Data: Balancing Privacy and Identifying the Unknown

The article discusses the limitations of the Aadhaar Act's restrictions on the disclosure of core biometric information in the context of identifying deceased individuals. It highlights the dilemma faced by law enforcement agencies when accessing fingerprint data from the Aadhaar database in cases where the body is unidentified. The article argues that providing access to fingerprint data based on a first information report (FIR) should not violate constitutional norms, as it is strictly based on a legitimate suspicion of wrongdoing. It emphasizes the importance of balancing the right to life with dignity with the need to ensure public safety and provide closure to grieving families.