(From the Supreme Court of Mauritius) The claimant had alleged that a new compulsory biometric identity card scheme contravened his human rights. It was provided that citizens must carry such cards and produce them to identify themselves upon request. In particular the court had found that the need to give fingerprints and for their retention requird justification.
Held: The Constitution is to be given a generous and purposive interpretation and in particular the provisions that enshrine fundamental rights should receive a generous and not literalist interpretation.
Lord Mance, Lord Clarke, Lord Wilson, Lord Sumption, Lord Hodge
[2016] UKPC 30
Bailii
Commonwealth
Commonwealth, Constitutional
Updated: 24 January 2022; Ref: scu.570730