Tests Like Narcoanalysis, Brainmapping Are ‘Illegal’, Rules SC
In what could be a big jolt to investigating agencies, the Supreme Court has announced that the use of narcoanalysis, brainmapping and polygraph tests on suspects is ‘illegal’, said media reports.
In its judgement, the apex court said that narco, polygraph or brainmapping tests cannot be carried out on any person, whether an accused or a suspect, without their permission, said reports.
“We are of the considered opinion that no individual can be forced and subjected to such techniques involuntarily, and by doing so it amounts to unwarranted intrusion of personal liberty,” a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan was quoted as saying.
The court observed that involuntarily subjecting an accused, a suspect or a witness to such techniques is infringement of Article 20 (3) of the Constitution, which prohibits self-incrimination, reports said.
The supreme court said that when an individual is forced to such methods of probe, this violates the scheme of legal process and that even if these tests are conducted on someone with consent, the results cannot be used as evidence unless verified by other evidence, said reports.
The bench, which also comprises of Justices R V Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari, however, said that if such tests are conducted on an individual with consent and something is obtained as a result of such investigation, the agencies can use them for further probe, reports said.
The court further observed that in conducting the polygraphy test, the investigating agencies have to follow strictly the guidelines laid down by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
On January 25, 2008, the apex court had reserved its order on a batch of petitions challenging investigation techniques like brain mapping, lie detection and narcoanalysis as being illegal and unconstitutional, especially in cases where accused are opposed to them.
The judgement assumes significance as the investigating agencies have been using narcoanalysis, brain-mapping and polygraph tests in a number of high-profile cases involving fake stamp paper kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi, Nithari killings accused, Arushi murder case suspects as well as parents of the teenager.
(Based on media reports)
