Set up forensic laboratory in every state capital: House panel tells MHA

The Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs has mentioned in a report that insensitiveness of doctors, apathy and insensitiveness of police, lack of counselling etc are some of the major problems being faced by the rape victims during medical examination and investigation process.

New Delhi: A Parliamentary committee has suggested the Union Home Ministry (MHA) to set up a forensic laboratory in every state capital, following the fact that delay in the medical examination is leading to the disappearance of evidence, especially in rape cases.

The Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs has mentioned in a report that "insensitiveness of doctors, apathy and insensitiveness of police, lack of counselling etc are some of the major problems being faced by the rape victims during medical examination and investigation process."

The committee is of the strong view that timely and proper medical and forensic examination in rape cases is crucial in the collection of evidence, investigation and trial.

The committee headed by Congress MP Anand Sharma observed that there is a strong requirement for establishing a network of forensic laboratories in the country as the forensic evidence is of crucial importance in the investigation and filing of charge sheets leading to the presentation of a higher number of cases before the courts.

"The MHA should take steps towards setting up at least one forensic laboratory in every state capital in the country, on priority," the committee said.

The committee also expressed displeasure against the low conviction rate in crimes against women and children, which also shows a serious mismatch between the measures adopted and their implementation.

The committee further notes that an analytical tool - Online Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO)-has been provided to law enforcement agencies to monitor and track police investigations within two months of sexual offences as per the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.

"The MHA should take up with all states and UTs for stringent implementation of the analytical tool ITSSO," the committee said.

The committee also finds that there is an urgent need for the media to show restraint and responsible behaviour in reporting the cases of crime against women and children.

"The committee believes that sensationalizing such cases in media demonstrates a lack of sensitivity and leads to re-victimisation of the survivors and embarrassment of their family," it said.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 27.8 per cent conviction rate has been registered in rape cases in 2019.

The data further shows that the conviction rate in gang rape and murder cases registered was 63.2 per cent, 35.6 per cent in dowry-related deaths, 54.2 per cent in an acid attack, 14.6 per cent in cases related to cruelty by husband or his relatives during the year 2019.

The parliamentary committee found that the conviction rate in cases of crimes like rape, cruelty by husband or his relatives, violation of the protection of women from domestic violence act, human trafficking, violation of cybercrimes/information technology act and protection of children from sexual offences act have been amongst the lowest.

Admitting the fact that forensics plays a critical role in the successful investigation, prosecution and conviction, the MHA informed the committee that a state of the art DNA laboratory at central forensic science laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh has been functioning since 2019.

"Apart from a capacity to handle 2000 cases, it is planned as leading research and development laboratory in this field. Similarly, projects for strengthening state-level forensic science laboratories have been approved in 20 states and UTs on the basis of demand gap assessment and requisition by states and UTs," the MHA said.

It further said that States like Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have procured necessary equipment and manpower for DNA and cyber forensics and have already commenced operations.

The MHA further informed that as part of an initiative for strengthening DNA analysis, based on requests from states and UTs, cyber forensics and related facilities in the states, projects have been approved in 16 state Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) at a total cost of Rs 157.98 crore.