[2016] UKPC 30
\nPrivy Council Appeal No 0006 of 2016<\/p>\n
1. \u00a0 The National Identity Card Act 1985 (\u201cthe 1985 Act\u201d) provides for adult citizens of Mauritius to carry identity cards which bear their names and signatures. More recently, the government proposed to introduce a new smart identity card, which incorporates on a chip the citizen\u2019s fingerprints and other biometric information relating to his or her external characteristics. The National Identity Card (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (\u201cthe 2013 Act\u201d) is the legislative vehicle which was enacted for this scheme, which it effected by amending the 1985 Act.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Mr Maharajah Madhewoo (\u201cthe appellant\u201d), a citizen of the Republic of Mauritius, has not applied for a biometric identity card. He challenges the constitutionality of the 2013 Act by seeking redress under section 17 of the Constitution, which allows a person to apply to the Supreme Court for redress if he alleges that any of sections 3 to 16 of the Constitution, which set out the individual\u2019s fundamental rights and freedoms, \u201chas been, is being or is likely to be contravened in relation to him”.<\/p>\n