New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) The Union Cabinet is learnt to have cleared a bill on Wednesday to allow the use of latest technology to maintain records of convicts and those arrested for crimes.

The proposed 'Identification of Prisoners Bill' seeks to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, which would be repealed, sources aware of the development said.

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They pointed out that the present British-era law allows limited "body measurements" of convicts and those arrested for crimes which carry the provision of rigorous punishment for a term of one year or more.

The draft bill, the sources said, allows collection of various details of convicts and those arrested for various crimes, including finger and palm prints, foot prints, photo, iris or retina scan and hand writing samples.

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Availability of greater details will help in increasing conviction rate as it would give investigators more tools to nail criminals, the sources said.

With criminals using latest technology, it was essential to provide new available tools to investigators.

Since it required various amendments in the present law to add fresh provisions, the government decided to bring a fresh bill and repeal the 1920 statute.

The bill may be introduced in the ongoing session of parliament.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)