Patna High Court Validates Aadhaar-Based Face Reading Attendance System for Medical Professionals
The Patna High Court delivered a significant verdict on Saturday. It declared the Aadhaar-based face reading attendance system for doctors in Bihar as constitutionally valid. This system uses GPS technology to track attendance.
Justice Bibek Chaudhuri presided over the case as a single bench judge. He dismissed a writ petition filed by Dr. Shyam Kumar Satyapal and seven other medical faculty members. The petition challenged the National Medical Commission's notification from April 17, 2025.
Privacy Concerns Addressed by the Court
The court firmly stated that this attendance method does not infringe upon the fundamental right to privacy. Medical college and hospital faculty members must use this system. It combines Aadhaar verification with facial recognition.
Justice Chaudhuri emphasized the system's legality. He found no constitutional violations in its implementation. The ruling supports the NMC's mandate for all medical colleges and hospitals in Bihar.
Arguments Presented During the Hearing
Petitioners' counsels, Saurabh Sunder and Ashish Gaurav, argued against the system. They claimed it violated constitutional privacy guarantees. They focused on the mandatory use of Aadhaar and GPS tracking.
Advocate General P.K. Shahi and Additional Solicitor General K.N. Singh defended the system. They highlighted that face and iris identification methods have been common since 2020. Shahi explained the GPS functionality in detail.
"The GPS location tagging ensures accurate attendance marking," Shahi stated. "Doctors must be within 100 meters of their medical college or hospital. This scientific approach identifies those not complying with attendance rules."
He noted that previous systems allowed marking attendance from remote locations. The new method prevents such practices. Kumar Priyaranjan represented the NMC and strongly opposed the writ petition.
Court Directs NMC to Accelerate Recruitment
Justice Chaudhuri issued an important directive alongside the verdict. He ordered the National Medical Commission to expedite recruitment efforts. Bihar faces a substantial shortage of medical teachers.
The court wants the NMC to fill these vacant posts quickly. A time-bound recruitment drive must address the staffing crisis. This directive aims to improve medical education quality in the state.
The verdict reinforces technological integration in professional settings. It balances administrative efficiency with constitutional safeguards. Medical professionals in Bihar must now adopt this attendance system without legal objections.
