Forensic science first report on study FS laboratory

Forensic science first report on study of Forensic science laboratory in India 

            Today we talk about a recently made report on Forensic Science India report: 'Study of forensic science laboratory' by project 39A from National Law University, Delhi. In India, research on state Forensic Science laboratories has rare scenarios, and not much data is available from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the government of India. 
The research mainly focuses on laboratories' working conditions on the ground reality, face challenges and not many opportunities, quality management by staff, staff recruitment and training, funding, finances, and infrastructure, all things that directly impact the validity and reliability of reports by Forensic scientific officer as well s law proceedings in the courts. 

Forensic science in India has been in existence since the British colonial period, the many changes in the constitution, replacement of IPC, CrPC, and IEA laws, British period time many names changed and new names according to our ancient history not changed in police and court proceedings and improve investigation with Forensic Science in India. 21st century is the South Asian century told to our PM Narendra Modi. This is the right time to improve the criminal justice system and reforms in police, court proceedings, and high-tech forensic science laboratories and improve research in these fields. Today we see in newspapers, and social media crime increasing day by day and different types of crimes.

 

                This report aims to fill the critical gaps in our understanding of the prevailing conditions within FSLs. In this survey, 61 FSLs were chosen for the sample size. The research on quantitative data from the assessment period of 2013-2017 as well as the report includes a recommendation for addressing structural problems and provides an analysis of the law on expert forensic evidence. The high variance in the budget and expenditure data between FSLs. According to these reports 15 out of 27 state and regional laboratories the administrative and financial control of the police department. 

The none of the laboratories including CFSLs which are envisioned as a center for research and development (R&D) in forensic science, allocate any funds for R&D. This strange but true fact according to reports we are reaching the moon and Mars we create Brahmos, different types of missile, cruise, number of the pharmaceutical industry. but in the forensic science field, we have not an R&D division??? 

here we have some recommendations from this report as follows as improvement in the criminal justice system and court procedure reforms:

• DFSS should hold consultations with state governments to separate FSLs from police departments, to ensure the impartiality and reliability of forensic results submitted to courts. the financial independence for FSLs, smoother budgetary processes, and improved utilization of funds.

• Central and state funds should be consistently disbursed across laboratories at the beginning of every year. The financial powers of FSL directors were revised in light of the routine costs of conducting casework.

• DFSS conducts regular needs assessment surveys to enable better financial planning for FSLs

• Towards improving their working conditions, FSLs should address occupational hazards and provide employee benefits like medical insurance, access to psychological support, better pay, research opportunities, and travel allowances and maintain parity with analogous positions in other government institutions. DFSS should liaise with state governments to implement the Flexible Complementing Scheme (FCS), which allows for promotions irrespective of vacancy.

• A Forensic Council of India (FCOI) must be established to regulate the professional practice of forensic science through the registration and licensing of forensic examiners. Such registration should be based on qualifying examinations conducted by FCOI and NFSU. Towards regulating forensic science education, FCOI, DFSS and NFSU must survey existing educational courses and institutions.

• All cases should undergo a technical and administrative review to ensure the quality of forensic examination in every case. A technical review should include an evaluation of the data and materials underlying the examination and to ensure that the results have been reported correctly.

• DFSS with the proposed FSR should formulate protocols based on best practices for the collection and handling of all types of forensic evidence. NFSU must develop training programmes for police on crime scene management, and FSLs must be adequately staffed so that they can provide such training. The police must also be adequately supplied with the requisite equipment for evidence collection.

• The practice of forensic medicine should be regulated and standards should be developed for medical examination of persons and post-mortem examinations. Further, medical practitioners and staff should be adequately trained to ensure the quality of biological samples.

• DFSS and the proposed FSR should create minimum infrastructural standards for the planning and construction of an FSL, including measures for contamination minimization, health and safety, waste disposal, and workflow management.

• Towards formalizing quality management, FSLs must be supported by the proposed state DFSS in getting accreditation, through the provision of additional resources and consultations with accredited laboratories, As many FSLs agreed, accreditation must eventually be made mandatory through flexible timelines which account for the current realities of the forensic system.

• DFSS, NFSU, and the proposed FSR should conduct a detailed scientific audit of the functional DNA profiling divisions across FSLs, with experts in the field, DFSS and the proposed FSR should develop contamination detection and prevention guidelines for DNA divisions, and FSLs must update, For the scientific and legal legitimacy of forensic DNA results, statistical analyses must be conducted routinely by every FSL. Towards this, scientific staff should be adequately trained by NFSU with the proposed state DFSS on different statistical models and their application to genetics data.

In the end, we concluded by including some recommendations implemented on the ground the huge changes and differences to improve the justice system and functioning smoothly. let`s see how much take action by government after these report and what to think about the forensic experts and forensic professionals.