Question : Forensic Lab

(a) whether the Indian criminal justice system is plagued by inadequate facilities and lack of capability in the police forces in gathering forensic evidence and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the measures proposed to be taken to tackle these problems;

(c) whether most of the Forensic labs in the country are over burdened and understaffed thereby affecting investigations and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the measures being taken to make the existing Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) efficient and also set up more CFSLs in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******








-2-

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*24 FOR 01.12.2015

(a): No, Madam. Facilities and capabilities in the police forces in gathering forensic evidence are reviewed on a constant basis and supplemented and augmented from time to time.

(b): The capacity of State police forces are improved through provisions of modernization of equipments and training with regard to gathering forensic evidence. Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (LNJN NICFS), New Delhi under the Ministry of Home Affairs is constantly organising training for Police and Scientists to educate them for collection and examination of forensic evidence. Besides Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) under Ministry of Home Affairs also conducts regular training for police personnel with regard to collection of forensic evidence. Need based specialized training to scientific personnel of State Forensic Science Laboratories is imparted by the Scientist of Central Forensic Science Laboratories.

(c): No, Madam. Upgradation of equipment and provisioning of additional manpower in Central Forensic Science Laboratories is reviewed on a constant basis. Ministry of Home Affairs is making all efforts to fill up all the vacant posts in Central Forensic Science Laboratories by way of recruitment and promotion. Recently contractual manpower has been provided to all Central Forensic Science Laboratories to mitigate the large number of pendency of cases.

(d): There are 6 Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in the country located at Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Guwahati and Pune. Out of six CFSLs, three new CFSLs that have been established at Bhopal, Guwahati and Pune in 2012. The 7th CFSL(CBI) is under control of Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) located at New Delhi. All the 7 Forensic Laboratories extend forensic examination and training support to State Forensic Laboratories as and when requested by State Governments. Forensic examination of crime cases is a State subject. Besides these, there are 30 State Forensic Laboratories, 50 Regional Forensic Laboratories and 144 District Mobile Forensic Laboratories functioning in the country.
*******