The time taken to deliver DNA and Viscera reports varies on the number of exhibits and complexity of the individual case.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation, prosecution of crime and criminals, and related forensic science facilities, are with the State/Union Territory concerned. The data on cases pending is not maintained centrally. It is the responsibility of the State/Union Territory to dispose of a case that inter-alia depends on several factors such as category of the case, complexity of the facts involved and nature of evidence.
In order to expedite forensic analysis and reduce backlogs in laboratories, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken following steps for strengthening of forensic capacities in the country:
- Three new Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories have been established at Bhopal, Guwahati, and Pune and the existing CFSL at Kolkata has been modernized.
- Machinery & Equipment has been upgraded in all the 7 Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories, including in the new disciplines of Forensics.
- A State-of-the-art DNA Analysis and Research & Development facility has been set up at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory at Chandigarh.
- A National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (NCFL) at the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Hyderabad has been established to investigate important cases of digital fraud / cyber forensics. Further, the Government of India has approved for setting up of 06 additional NCFLs in the country at the CFSL Chandigarh, Delhi, Kolkata, Kamruup, Bhopal, and Pune with a total outlay of ₹126.84 crore.
- An e-Forensics IT platform, which connects 117 forensic science laboratories (Central and State) in the country has been Operationalized.
- In order to strengthen DNA Analysis and Cyber Forensic Capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories (State FSLs), all projects (30) received from States/UTs have been approved to the tune of ₹245.29 crore. ₹185.28 crore have been released so far.
- In order to address the necessity for capacity building of manpower in forensic sciences, MHA is undertaking training for Investigating Officers, Prosecutors, and Medical Officers from States/UTs in collection, storage and handling of DNA evidence and use of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits. So far 32,524 Investigating Officers, Prosecutors and Medical Officers have been trained. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also distributed 18020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to the States/UTs as part of this training.
- Further, in the year 2022 a “Scheme for Modernization of Forensic Capacities” with a total financial outlay of ₹2080.5 crore has been approved. Under this scheme, assistance is available to States/ Union Territories to develop high quality forensic science facilities for modernization of machinery and equipment including mobile forensic vans, and facilitating availability of trained manpower in these laboratories through expansion of educational facilities for forensic science in the country. So far, funds to the tune of about ₹200 crore have been approved for 20 States / Union Territories for the component of “Modernization /Upgradation of Forensic Science Laboratories in States / Union Territories”. Further, under this Scheme so far, projects from 23 States/UTs have been approved for procurement of 433 mobile forensic vans.
- The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) has been set up under the Act of the Parliament in the year 2020 for providing quality and trained forensic manpower across all parts of the country. Apart from the initial campuses of the NFSU in Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Delhi, in-principle approval has been provided for setting up of 05 additional off-campuses of the NFSU in Goa, Agartala (Tripura), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Dharwad (Karnataka), and Guwahati (Assam). These additional campuses are currently operational from transit campuses till the construction of permanent campuses. Apart from this, the NFSU has also set up training/skilling academies in Imphal (Manipur) and Pune (Maharashtra). Further, the Cabinet on 19.06.2024 has approved “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme” which inter-alia includes the component for setting up of 09 additional campuses of the NFSU in the country with a total financial outlay of ₹1309.13 crore from financial year 2024-2025 to 2028-2029.
- To ensure quality and standardization in forensic examination, the Directorate of Forensic Science Services, MHA, has issued the following guidelines:
– Quality Manuals for accreditation of laboratories as per NABL standards (ISO 17025) and Working Procedure Manuals in nine disciplines of Forensic Sciences.
– For collection, preservation & transportation of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases for Investigation Officers and medical Officers
– Standard list of Equipment for establishing/upgrading of Forensic Sciences Laboratories.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
Original News Source: Press Information Bureau