DCW issues notice to Principal Secy (Home) on FSL sample issue

The DCW has issued notice to Delhi government's Principal Secretary (Home) seeking details of the officers responsible for expiration of samples at Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) Rohini and steps proposed by the Home Department to ensure that high pendency of cases is reduced.
The move comes in the wake of the Director of FSL replying to DCW's notice that 7808 cases are pending as on September 30 since 2011 and that the validity of 1479 samples have expired and that accurate report can no longer be prepared as all other samples have a validity of one year except for documentary evidence (DOC).

Also, FSL has informed that 2169 samples which are pending since 2014 may have already expired or may be on the verge of expiry.
"The fact that as many as 1499 samples have been lying in the FSL since 2011 and may no longer produce accurate results is a huge blow to the victims of grievous crimes of gang-rapes and rapes of children and women. Such lapses are unacceptable as they result in denial of justice to the victims," said Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal.
Stating it to be an extremely serious lapse on the part of the Home Department, Maliwal in the notice said, "Please provide details of the officers responsible for this lapse and steps proposed by the Home Department to ensure that pendency is reduced and the samples are analysed within an year.

The DCW chief sought to know the steps that are being taken by the Home Department to ensure immediate filling up of 203 posts lying vacant in FSL for the past several years.
She also sought the details of the status of five proposed forensic science laboratories announced in Delhi by the Delhi Government and estimated time period in which the same will become functional.