Over 750 rape cases in MP waiting for forensic reports for their disposal
17 Mar, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that more than 750 cases of rape are pending in Madhya Pradesh due to delay in forensic reports caused by staff shortage.
The reply, provided by the Madhya Pradesh Forensic Science Laboratory (MPFSL), stated that 585 samples for biological examination (vaginal swab testing and semen sample testing) and 190 samples for DNA tests of rape cases are currently pending with the laboratories. The data pertain to the samples received between January 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013.
The head of biological section at MPFSL has stated that as per present status, samples have to wait for around two months be taken up for examination unless they relate to high profile cases where samples are accompanied by instructions from higher authorities. The delay, according to him, is caused due to shortage of staff. He said that scientific officers in biological section are handling 40 samples per month though the target set by the government is only 33 samples. This has caused them to do overtime for an hour per day.