Outsource forensic work: HC tells state

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Friday said the state government should consider outsourcing the forensic examination of evidence in criminal cases to reliable

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Friday said the state government should consider outsourcing the forensic examination of evidence in criminal cases to reliable private entities.

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The division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice PD Naik felt it necessary that the state outsource the forensic examination of documents, blood samples and weapons used to commit crimes. It stated that in several cases, the filing of the charge sheet against the accused is delayed as the forensic reports are received late.

The directive came after assistant public prosecutor Mankuwar Deshmukh informed the bench that two forensic science laboratories have recently been started at Nanded and Kolhapur, in addition to the six set up in the state. She added that 45 mobile forensic units have been provided to each police unit chief – 9 commissioners of police and 36 superintendents of police.

The bench, however, felt that these measures could not cater to the state’s increasing needs.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Sangola resident Bhiva Hazare — who complained about the delay in the investigation into his son’s murder — and a public interest litigation raising similar issues.