It appears that voicing concern is just water off a duck’s back for an unresponsive State administration in respect of an institution imperilled to face turbulent weathers and end up in an absolute State of abject dormancy . ‘Excelsior’ , through these columns a few months back, had brought home to the concerned authorities in the Home Department the dire need of refurbishing Forensic Science Laboratories by taking certain immediate steps like appointment of technical persons in these laboratories in the twin State capitals for which they are hungering and yearning since 1983. Does it need any particular emphasis to underline the key role, forensic science was playing in criminal justice system especially in a sensitive border State like Jammu and Kashmir ? Newer and novel types of crimes taking place with meticulous planning and satanic designs are making headlines on intermittent basis , yet the State administration has been adopting entirely an approach of absolute inertia resulting in both these laboratories being lamed and rendered non performing. With this rate of deflation and slump , deplorably speaking, both the Laboratories are destined to get collapsed.
Investigating agencies have got to be increasingly dependent on scientific analysis and in this respect, forensic science has seen its utility and role in more elevated form . Scientifically based information through the analysis of physical evidence has become an integral part of professional investigation .That is the reason , the Supreme Court of India has passed numerous directions for the last two – three years asking the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and all the States to ensure that the issues of providing the requisite manpower and other constraints in their respective Forensic Science Laboratories are addressed as early as possible. It is , however, strange that all the directions of the Supreme Court have been conveniently ignored by the State Home Department which continues till date, resulting in both the Laboratories in Jammu and Kashmir having been converted into virtual non- entities. Not only this, we are afraid, the situation might take a worst turn in the form of total collapse in the very near future. Political leadership might well thereafter write political epitaph for these laboratories but not without lamenting as to why they themselves, when it mattered , remained still and motionless and did not take any action.
How could such laboratories run smoothly unless technical hands were provided since professionals like Ballistic experts had a very cardinal role to play as they alone could specifically dish out credible opinion, for example on — which type of the fire arms were used , the range , the time and the like. We hardly need to give detailed report on which of the crimes right from a murder, a rape, a bomb explosion and the like , the investigation agencies did not need the aegis and active support of the forensic science. The fact of the matter is that there is only one Ballistic expert in whole of the State, stationed at Jammu who too is attaining superannuation within a few days leaving the Laboratories without any expert . In other words , the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir would be without a Ballistic expert , that being a matter of a few days and then Jammu and Kashmir shall have to have the recourse of outsourcing the scientific forensic help in the shape of visiting neighbouring States . Whether that situation is averted and some urgent measures are taken or these two Laboratories are allowed to face closure early next year, remains to be seen . We shall keep on monitoring the developments .
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