HC Issues Rule on Digitising Information on Convicted Criminals

The High Court (HC) today issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why information on people convicted of criminal offences should not be digitised and made easily accessible to the public.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this connection.

“The court asked respondents including the home secretary and law secretary to reply to the rule within four weeks,” Barrister Fahmida Akter, who filed and moved the petition, said.

Fahmida said that as crime continues to rise, a publicly accessible online database of convicted criminals could serve two purposes: deterring repeat offences through social accountability and enabling background checks before hiring or employing people.

She filed the writ petition on July 30 and moved it before the court on Sunday.