Forensic investigation to be made mandatory for offenses involving imprisonment for 6 years or more
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that through changes in relevant laws, the government is planning to make forensic investigation mandatory in all cases where the offense carries a punishment of six years or more.
“The Narendra Modi government… is working towards making forensic investigation mandatory in all cases of offenses punishable with imprisonment of more than 6 years,” Shah said.
He was addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on “Forensic Science Capabilities: Strengthening for Time Bound and Scientific Investigation” at Kevadia, Gujarat. Shah was presiding over the meeting.
According to the MHA, Shah called for the establishment of an independent Directorate of Prosecution and an independent Directorate of Forensic Science in each State/Union Territory through proposed comprehensive amendments to the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act.
Shah stressed on the need to be one step ahead of criminals in view of the use of technology by the investigating agencies and said that the central government along with the state governments is working on a three-pronged approach to improve police investigation. Prosecution and Forensics.
He said this is the right time to focus on technology-based and evidence-based investigations to achieve the targeted conviction rate, which he pegged at 90%.
According to the MHA, Shah “informed the members that the central government is providing funds to strengthen the forensic infrastructure across the country, including setting up of mobile forensic science units in each district, and that these units will be available in at least one district.” Steps are also being taken to standardize forensic equipment, instrument calibration, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in all FSLs in the country for high quality forensic results, he added.
Members of Parliament, Ministers of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Nishith Pramanik and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla along with senior officials of MHA, NCRB and National Forensic Science University attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed the forensic science capabilities available in the country, especially keeping in view the increasing dependence of the criminal justice system on forensic investigation.