The Hindu Business Line : AP forensic lab to be revamped

THE Andhra Pradesh Home Minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, has agreed to approve a plan for restructuring the Andhra Pradesh State Forensic Laboratory (APSFL).

"Just send the proposal and the Government would okay the restructuring required in terms of upgradation of labs, staff pattern and other changes for improving the overall efficiency," Mr Reddy said, while delivering the valedictory address at the XVI All India Forensic Sciences Conference, here today.

The Minister, however, said the Government would examine the proposal for giving one increment to all scientific staff and upgradation of the Director's post. He congratulated the APSFL for becoming the first forensic lab in the country to achieve both ISO 9001 and NABL-ISO 17025.

Earlier, in his keynote address, Mr Justice M. Jagannadha Rao, Chairman, Law Commission of India, suggested the establishment of an autonomous, neutral forensic authority, to improve the acceptability of forensic science in courts, especially in the changing technology and crime environment.

Suggesting more basic research into forensic sciences, Mr Justice Rao said a separate programme on science, technology and law should be introduced. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Home Ministry, are seized with the idea.

The Law Commission Chairman said, though the pendancy in courts was high (two crore cases), it was not correct to state that delays were enormous. In fact, of the 1.4-crore new cases brought before courts, 1.3-crore cases were disposed off, he said.

The Director-cum-Chief Forensic Scientist of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences, Dr M.S. Rao, felt that forensic science should be recognised as direct evidence in courts and not as indirect evidence as of now.

Expertise in the area has been strengthened within the country, with the establishment of a string of laboratories, including those specialised in cyber crime, to keep pace with the changing nature of crime, he said in his remarks.

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