FORENSIC LABS
FORENSIC LABS
Presently, there are 7 Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSL) in the country under Directorate of Forensic Science Services. These CFSLs are located at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Chandigarh, Kamrup (Assam), Hyderabad (Telangana), Pune (Maharashtra), Delhi and Kolkata (West Bengal). Further, as per the available information, there are 32 State Forensic Science Laboratories and 97 Regional Forensic Science Laboratories in the country. The State-wise details of forensic labs of the States / Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, may be seen at Annexure.
The Government is focused on strengthening the capacities for investigation and prosecution, including the eco-system for forensic sciences in the country. The process of strengthening of forensic laboratories and related facilities in the country is an ongoing and continuous process which is dependent on gap-analysis and demand assessment. ‘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 following steps have been taken by the Central Government to upgrade forensic labs and also forensic infrastructure in the country:
– Quality Manuals for accreditation of laboratories as per NABL standards (ISO 17025) and Working Procedure Manuals in nine disciplines of Forensic Sciences.
– Guidelines 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.
Annexure
The State-wise details of forensic labs of the States / Union Territories.
S. No.
States / UTs
No. of State FSLs
No. of Regional FSLs
1
A&N Islands
1
0
2
Andhra Pradesh
1
5
3
Arunachal Pradesh
1
0
4
Assam
1
5
5
Bihar
1
2
6
Chhattisgarh
1
3
7
Delhi
1
1
8
Gujarat
1
7
9
Goa
1
0
10
Haryana
1
4
11
Himachal Pradesh
1
2
12
Jharkhand
1
0
13
Jammu & Kashmir
1
1
14
Kerala
1
3
15
Karnataka
1
7
16
West Bengal
1
2
17
Madhya Pradesh
1
4
18
Maharashtra
1
12
19
Manipur
1
0
20
Meghalaya
1
0
21
Mizoram
1
0
22
Nagaland
1
0
23
Odisha
1
3
24
Puducherry
1
0
25
Punjab
1
3
26
Rajasthan
1
6
27
Sikkim
1
0
28
Tamil Nadu
1
10
29
Telangana
1
4
30
Tripura
1
0
31
Uttar Pradesh
1
12
32
Uttarakhand
1
1
Total
32
97
(Source: Directorate of Forensic Science Services)
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.
- Three new Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories have been established at Bhopal, Guwahati, and Pune and the existing CFSL at Kolkata has been modernized.