Seeking details of officers responsible for expiration of samples at Forensic Science Laboratory Rohini, the Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to the Delhi government’s principal secretary (home). The notice also seeks steps proposed by the home department to ensure that high pendency of cases is reduced. The commission asked the principal secretary to submit the detailed status report on the issues raised latest by November 12.
The move comes in the wake of the FSL director replying to the DCW notice that 7,808 cases were pending as on September 30 since 2011 and that 1,479 samples had expired and an accurate report could no longer be prepared as all samples have a validity of one year except for documentary evidence. Also, the FSL said that 2,169 samples pending since 2014 may have already expired or may be on the verge of expiry.
“The fact that as many as 1,499 samples have been lying in the FSL since 2011 and may no longer produce accurate results is a huge blow to the victims of grievous crimes of gangrapes and rapes of children and women. Such lapses are unacceptable as they result in denial of justice to the victims,” DCW chief Swati Maliwal said.
Stating it to be an extremely serious lapse on the part of the home department, Ms Maliwal said, “Please provide details of the officers responsible for this lapse and steps proposed by the home department to ensure that pendency is reduced and the samples are analysed within an year.” The DCW chief sought to know the steps that are being taken by the home department to ensure immediate filling up of 203 posts lying vacant in the FSL for the past several years. She also sought the details of the status of five proposed forensic science laboratories announced in Delhi by the AAP government and estimated time period in which the same will become functional.
“Five FSLs have been announced in Delhi by the Delhi government. However, several issues have slowed down progress on the same. The commission has been informed that files for these laboratories have been pending with various agencies such as MCD, DDA and PWD amongst others,” she said.
