- Recently brain fingerprinting was in the news in the context of the alleged rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The four accused were brought at the Gandhinagar-based Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) with the four accused.
- A brain electrical oscillation signature profiling (BEOSP) test will be conducted on all four.
- Brain Electrical Oscillation Signature Profiling (BEOSP) also known as brain fingerprinting is a neuro psychological method of interrogation in which the accused participation in the crime is investigated by studying their brain response.
- The BEOSP test is carried out via a process known as electroencephalogram, conducted to study the electrical behaviour of the human brain.
- Under this test, the consent of the accused is first taken and they are then made to wear caps with dozens of electrodes attached to them.
- Unlike lie detector test, the BEOSP procedure does not involve a question answer session with the accused and is rather a neuro psychological study of their brain.
- The result of these scientific tests alone can not be admitted as evidence.
- In 2010, the Supreme Court of India, in the Selvi versus State of Karnataka case observed that narco analysis, polygraph and brain mapping tests cannot be forced upon any individual without their consent and the test results cannot be admitted solely as evidence. However any information or material discovered during the tests can be made part of the evidence.
(Source: Indian Express)
