High Court Directs Punjab & Haryana To Issue SOP On Timely Testing Of Forensic Evidence In FSL

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued set of directions to the Government of Punjab & Haryana to ensure expeditious Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports of incriminatory evidences.

Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said, "a direction is also passed upon all the Directors General of Police in the States of Punjab and Haryana, to issue standing operating procedure relating to (a) the making of prompt despatch(es) of the incriminatory items/materials to the FSLs/RFSLs concerned, (b) relating to prompt testings thereof, and, (c) thereafters the same being returned to the Court(s) concerned."

"Moreover, the Chief Secretaries to the State of Punjab and to the State of Haryana, are directed to draw a standard operating procedure appertaining to timely testings being made by the FSLs/RFSLs concerned, vis-a-vis the incriminatory material," added the Court.

The bench also directed the Chief Secretaries to the States of Punjab and Haryana, to ensure that the posts in the regional centres of FSL as stated in the affidavit is promptly filed.

In pursuance of Court's previous direction the Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, and Punjab's Administrative Secretary had filed the compliance affidavit on whether there is sufficient manpower in FSLs.

The Court noted that the Punjab Government has stated that proposal has been made for strengthening the existing Forensic Divisions, for the effective and speedy examination of NDPS Act cases, at FSL Mohali, and, also at the three Regional Testing Forensic Science Laboratories at Bathinda, Amritsar and Ludhiana, thus through procurements of instruments.

It further noted that Haryana has stated in the affidavit that the establishment of regional centres of FSLs is in process.

While issuing directions the Court also said that the SOP should also include that tampering of sealed cloth parcels are not done after the examination of the incriminatory material.

"The Special Steering Committee to oversee the enforcement of the standing operating procedures be forthwith established," it added.

The bench further said that the States should consider batch-wise training of Police Officers at Himachal Pradesh's Police Training College, Daroh.

The matter is listed for December 20, for compliance with directions.

Title: KULDEEP SINGH VS. STATE OF HARYANA

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