Identify yourself: SHC initiates biometric identification in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD:

Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice Faisal Arab inaugurated the biometric identification system for litigants in the Hyderabad circuit bench on Saturday. The identification and affidavit branch will help trace and eliminate the submission of fake affidavits by taking thumb impressions against each written statement submitted by litigants in court. Around 500 affidavits are filed daily in this SHC branch, which has six sanctioned seats of SHC judges. Its jurisdiction covers 14 districts of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah divisions.

“Besides cutting out fake affidavits, this step will also help end the corrupt practice of accepting affidavits in the absence of the litigants,” an official told The Express Tribune  requesting anonymity. He explained that fake affidavits were filed by one person on behalf of another by simply producing the statement along with the CNIC even if the litigant is not present.

Three counters, including a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) counter, have been set up on the ground floor of the SHC building. The court charges Rs30 for each affidavit, Rs25 of which are to be paid to NADRA.

Another official claimed that a similar identification branch will soon be established in the district and sessions courts in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Umerkot districts. The SHC’s principal seat in Karachi and its bench in Sukkur are already equipped with this system.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2015.