Relevance: Mains: G.S paper III: Science and tech
Gokulnath Shetty – the retired deputy manager of PNB involved in PNB scam – refused to give his consent to CBI to conduct polygraph and narcoanalysis tests on him by citing a Supreme Court judgment that makes it mandatory to obtain the consent of the accused for such tests.
About:
- In ‘Lie Detector Tests’, several instruments are used in the course of these examinations to put a person in a hypnotic state to ‘reduce’ their ability to lie or manipulate.
Polygraph Test:
- A polygraph test is based on the assumption that physiological responses that are triggered when a person is lying are different from what they would be otherwise.
- Sensitive electrodes are attached to the person, and variables such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration etc., are measured as questions are put to them.
- Narcoanalysis: Narcoanalysis, by contrast, involves the injection of a drug, sodium pentothal, which induces a hypnotic or sedated state in which the subject’s imagination is neutralised, and they are expected to divulge true information.
Are the tests effective?
- Investigating agencies are employing these tests in investigation, and are sometimes seen as being a “softer alternative” to torture or ‘third degree’ to extract the truth from suspects.
- However, neither method has been proven scientifically to have a 100% success rate, and remain contentious in the medical field as well.