New Delhi: The Delhi biometric attendance row has drawn attention after the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi government to decide within four weeks on a plea filed by public prosecutors against the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS).
The petition argues that mandatory biometric attendance is impractical because public prosecutors frequently travel to courts, police stations, and other official locations while performing their duties. The Court has asked the government to examine the concerns and take a decision after providing a personal hearing to the association.
Details of Delhi Biometric Attendance Row
The case was filed by the Delhi Prosecutors Welfare Association before the Delhi High Court. The association challenged two Delhi government circulars that made Aadhaar-based biometric attendance mandatory for public prosecutors, additional public prosecutors, and assistant public prosecutors.
The petition sought the cancellation of these circulars and raised concerns regarding the practical difficulties faced by prosecutors in complying with the new attendance system.
Delhi Biometric Attendance Row: Delhi High Court’s Direction
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed that the petition be treated as a formal representation before the concerned authorities of the Delhi government. The Court instructed the government to decide the matter within four weeks from August 17 and communicate its decision to the petitioner after granting a personal hearing.
Liberty Granted To Approach Court Again
While disposing of the petition, the High Court allowed the association to approach the Court again if it remained dissatisfied with the government’s decision.
Why Are Public Prosecutors Opposing Biometric Attendance
The association argued that public prosecutors are officers of the court and their work is not limited to a single office location.
They regularly visit multiple courts, police stations, investigation agencies, and other government offices while carrying out their responsibilities.
Attendance Already Reflected In Court Records
According to the petition, prosecutors’ presence and work are already documented through court proceedings, hearing records, and official judicial documents.
Therefore, the association claims that a separate biometric attendance mechanism may not accurately reflect the nature of prosecutorial work.
Concerns Over Administrative Burden
The association stated that mandatory biometric attendance could create unnecessary delays before court proceedings.
It argued that prosecutors may have to spend valuable time marking attendance instead of preparing for court appearances and legal proceedings.
Delhi Biometric Attendance Row: Alternative Proposal Presented Before The Court
The Delhi Prosecutors Welfare Association suggested an alternative attendance model designed specifically for prosecutors. The association requested a court-centric attendance mechanism that takes into account the unique working conditions and responsibilities of prosecutors.
Previous Representation Was Ignored
The petition also stated that prosecutors had previously submitted representations opposing the biometric attendance mechanism. According to the association, the government implemented the system without adequately considering those concerns.
Background Of The Biometric Attendance Policy
The Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) was introduced as part of a wider effort to improve attendance monitoring across Delhi government departments.
The attendance system was gradually implemented across various offices and departments under the Delhi government. The Directorate of Prosecution later issued circulars extending the biometric attendance requirement to public prosecutors.
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FAQs
The Delhi High Court directed the Delhi government to treat the petition as a representation and decide the matter within four weeks after giving the association a personal hearing.
Public prosecutors argued that their work requires frequent visits to courts, police stations, and other locations, making mandatory biometric attendance impractical.
AEBAS is a biometric attendance tracking system linked to Aadhaar that is being implemented across various government departments to monitor employee attendance.
