Taking of prints by order of the court

(1) Where any person not less than fourteen years of age who has been taken into custody is charged with an offence before a court, the court may, if it thinks fit, on the application of a police officer not below the rank of assistant inspector, order that the prints of that person be taken by a police officer or other person named in the order. (2) Prints taken in pursuance of an order made under this section shall be taken either at the court or, if the person to whom the order relates is remanded in custody, at any place to which he is committed, and a police officer or other person named in such order may use such reasonable force as may be necessary for that purpose. 31 (3) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to the provisions of any other enactment under which the prints of any person may be taken. (4) Where the prints of any person have been taken in pursuance of an order made under this section, then if the complaint against him is dismissed, the prints and all copies and records shall be destroyed. (5) For the purposes of this section the expression “prints” shall include fingerprint, thumb print, palm print and sole print impressions.