Meghalaya HC flags crippled forensic lab as DNA testing stalls

The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to act quickly on the condition of the Forensic Science Laboratory in Shillong, after a court-appointed amicus curiae reported that DNA testing has stopped, drug (NDPS) testing has been interrupted and a single cleaner is looking after an entire three-storey building.

A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh heard the public interest litigation on November 5. The order was reported on Tuesday.

What the amicus found

Amicus curiae K Ch Gautam visited the Directorate of Forensic Sciences and filed a detailed report. According to Hub News, it describes damp and unhygienic workstations, rusted and non-working equipment, poor sanitation and a generator installed in 2024 that has been dead since a voltage surge.

The report lists:

• an acute shortage of staff in the Chemistry, Biology and DNA, Documents, Cyber Forensics, Ballistics and Physics divisions, with two Deputy Director and two Scientific Officer posts vacant
• one Scientific Officer handling both the Cyber Forensic Unit and the Physical Division
• a shortage of chemicals that has hit DNA testing, and broken equipment that has interrupted NDPS testing in the Chemistry Division
• outdated hardware and software in Cyber Forensics, and no regular maintenance or calibration
• only one cleaner, leaving scientific officers to clean their own divisions

It also flagged that the present Director does not have a forensic science background. The court said the question of adequate scientific supervision of such a specialised directorate merits expeditious consideration.

'Can lead to acquittals'

The bench noted that criminal investigations depend heavily on forensic reports, and that delays affect chargesheets, trials and the timely delivery of justice. It warned that deficiencies in forensic reports can also lead to acquittals.

Proposals for DNA consumables, generator repair or replacement and new equipment are pending with the Finance Department and the Home (Police) Department, the court recorded.

What the court ordered

The bench directed the Additional Advocate General to place the report before the Secretary and Joint Secretary of the Home (Police) Department so that pending approvals are cleared, vacancies including Grade-IV posts are filled and urgent building maintenance is done. It said retired FSL employees could be engaged on contract until regular appointments are made.

The state must file an affidavit on the steps taken before the next hearing on November 19. The court also directed the government to pay Rs 50,000 to the amicus curiae for his work.