Biometric Attendance System Not Illegal Just Because Employees Were Not Consulted: SC

PTI, NEW DELHI, NOV 4, 2025 :  The Supreme Court has ruled that the introduction of the Biometric Attendance System (BAS) in government offices is not illegal merely because employees were not consulted prior to its installation. The court overruled a decision by the Orissa High Court, which had found that the system's implementation violated regulations because it lacked prior consultation with employees.

A bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale passed the judgment, allowing the Centre’s 2015 appeal against the Orissa High Court's August 2014 ruling. The High Court had held that circulars introducing the Biometric Attendance System in the Office of the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Odisha, were issued without proper consultation with employees and were not in line with the established manual on administration for central government offices.

The apex court, in its order on October 29, acknowledged that the BAS was introduced for the benefit of all stakeholders. It emphasized that merely not consulting the employees before implementing the system does not render it illegal. The court stated that the BAS was introduced through various circulars in 2013, starting from July 1, and dismissed the High Court's ruling.

The bench also pointed out that the employees had challenged the system’s introduction in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), but their petition was rejected on the grounds that it did not pertain to service conditions. The employees then moved the High Court, which had ruled in their favor. However, the Supreme Court set aside that order and allowed the implementation of the Biometric Attendance System, as laid out in the original circulars.

The Centre’s counsel submitted before the apex court that the manual for the establishment and administration of central government offices did not contain any rules that were violated by the implementation of the BAS. The court, therefore, concluded that the system’s introduction did not breach any established regulations.

This ruling allows the Office of the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Odisha, to continue using the Biometric Attendance System, which was intended to improve efficiency and transparency in attendance management.