‘Mehendi & biometrics not a match made in heaven’

Couples intending to tie the knot in Bengal have to get their thumb impressions recorded twice – first at the registrar’s office while submitting an application and again a month later during the marriage registration, which happens mostly on the wedding day. Registrars have flagged several incidents in the past month when they have struggled to capture the thumb impression of brides, and witnesses, because of the mehendi on the fingertips. They are now advising couples to leave out the thumb tips, while applying mehendi on their palms.