An additional affidavit by state authorities in the High Court of Manipur has revealed that various measures are still in process and steps would still have to be taken to make actual progress at the Forensic Science Laboratory, Pangei. More particularly, recruitment rules are yet to be framed for some of the vacant posts.
The state authorities filed an additional affidavit after the High Court of Manipur gave one last opportunity to the state to indicate what progress it has achieved since April, 2022, for augmenting the infrastructure and workforce in the Forensic Science Laboratory, Pangei.
“There is no clear indication as to how the FSL has been functional since April, 2022, and the nature of the tests that the FSL is now in a position to carry out,” the HC stated.
Following the observation of the HC, advocate general of Manipur sought time to file another affidavit to shed light on the aspects of FSL, Pangei; the High Court has fixed August 5 for the next hearing.
Earlier in April this year, the director of FSL, Pangei had submitted the affidavit following the direction of the High Court in connection with the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by RK Joysana through his counsel M Hemchandra on the deplorable conditions of FSL, Pangei, in 2017.
Then again, on April 6, 2022, the HC directed the state authorities to submit an affidavit indicating the extent of progress made, both in terms of securing infrastructure as well as building up the workforce in the laboratory, giving it three months’ time.
However, the state authorities failed to submit the affidavit by the first week of July, 2022 following which, the HC on July 7, 2022, gave one last opportunity to file the affidavit. Hence, the state authorities on Thursday (July 28) submitted the additional affidavit.
Earlier in 2020, the HC had directed the state government to fill up vacant posts in the Forensic Science Laboratory citing that delay in submission of forensic reports directly impacted on the disposal of criminal cases.
The affidavit submitted on December 9, 2020 stated that one post of Scientific Officer and two posts of Scientific Assistant were vacant in the Chemistry division while two posts of Scientific Assistant were vacant in the Toxicology division.
In the Ballistics Division and in the Biology and Documents division, no post was vacant but there was a need for increasing manpower to dispose of a huge number of pending cases.
The Ballistics division director of FSL submitted the proposal to the government to create seven posts of Ballistics Division in 2019 but the matter is pending before the government, it stated.
Then, the high court had directed the state government to fill up all the vacant posts, which are highly technical in nature, with immediate effect and report by February 11, 2021.
Also Read: DM University will be full-fledged soon: Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar
Must Read:
Fear of social stigma keeps IDUs away from availing free Hepatitis tests in hospitals
Despite tough border duty, security personnel at Dzuko deprived of basic requirements
Hunting stopped, but Manipur State Bird Nongin faces extinction
