Delays in forensic examination can hold up police investigations and court proceedings. The Delhi Government on Wednesday said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) had reduced its pending workload from nearly 27,000 cases to around 5,700 in about a year, marking a decline of 78.88 per cent.
The reduction is expected to help investigators obtain scientific reports faster and allow criminal trials to proceed without prolonged waits for forensic findings, Home Minister Ashish Sood said in a statement. The Government attributed the improvement to changes in the laboratory’s functioning, infrastructure development and steps to address staff shortages.
Alongside the reduction in pending cases, the Government has approved a new Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) at Sheikh Sarai, with a financial outlay of `151.80 crore. The facility is intended to expand forensic examination capacity in the capital and reduce the workload on the main laboratory at Rohini.
The Government said the new facility would strengthen evidence-based investigations and help deliver forensic services faster. Specialised laboratories have also been proposed to widen the range of examinations that can be conducted.
Infrastructure upgrades, including building and structural work to accommodate modern scientific equipment, are also underway. According to the statement, the FSL has been provided with upgraded machinery, digital equipment, and technical tools to improve the precision of forensic examinations.
On workforce, the Government said it is taking steps to fill vacant regular posts at different levels. It has also extended the tenure of contractual employees and technical staff to ensure that laboratory operations continue without disruption.
The reduction in pending cases follows a backlog of about 27,000 cases awaiting examination. The current figure of around 5,700 represents a substantial reduction in cases awaiting forensic analysis.
Sood said the decline reflected efforts to improve resource use and make the institution more responsive. He said the administration wanted scientific investigation and timely processing to work together in support of the criminal justice system.