Biometric SIM registration legal

The High Court has given legality to biometric data collection and fingerprints of people for registering mobile phone`s Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards scrapping a writ petition that challenged the move. The High Court bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice AKM Shahidul Huq on Tuesday delivered the verdict. The court also directed mobile phone operators to take highest precaution against the misuse of data and fingerprints of the subscribers. Biometric re-registration started from December 16 last year. On March 9, lawyer SM Enamul Haque filed the writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the SIM/RUIM registration through the biometric process which was heard by the HC bench on March 14. After primary hearing the court issued a rule asking the government as to why collecting biometric information of subscribers through a third party, the telecom operators, will not be declared illegal. BTRC replied to the rule, saying that the writ petition is not acceptable, as it does not serve public interest. An HC completed the hearing of the rule on Sunday last. –risingbd.com