Huge backlog of cases at the Forensic Science Laboratory
25 Jun, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that large number of cases of forensic reports, DNA tests and ballistic tests are lying pending with the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Rohini in New Delhi due to which investigation and justice delivery are being hampered.
The reply to the application states that total number of pending cases till the beginning of 2013 was 8,991. The main cause of such huge pendency is the shortage of staff. The reply says that out of total sanctioned posts of 337 at FSL, 194 seats are lying vacant. The reply says that the highest pendency of cases is 5,433 with the chemistry department, followed by documentation department with 2,038 cases. Among other departments, DNA department has a backlog of 862 cases, cyber unit has backlog of 143 cases and physics department has a backlog of 46 cases.
Though the FSL dismissed the charges of delay, the Delhi police officials stated that quick delivery of reports is obtained only when the cases are followed up by senior officers. In ordinary cases, the police have to make several rounds to get the report and sometimes the reports are obtained through judicial intervention.
A lower court had also directed the secretary to home affairs of Delhi government to set up at least 12 forensic science laboratories in the capital to cope up with the crisis.