Bombay High Court seeks data on pending cases at Forensic Science Laboratories over last 5 years
The Bombay High Court has directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to submit data on pending cases at the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) in Mumbai and Thane over the past five years.
The direction came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by educational technology company Eduedge Pro Pvt. Ltd., raising concerns about delays in forensic analysis, especially in cybercrime investigations. The petition, filed by advocates Janhavi Karnik and Himanshu Kode, had sought the transfer of an investigation, pointing to serious delays by the FSL.
The court had, in August, pulled up the Maharashtra government for its lethargic approach towards upgrading the forensic department, while hearing a petition filed by Eduedge and its owners seeking that the investigation initiated at their instance, be transferred from Bandra police station to some other independent agency.
Additional Public Prosecutor VB Konde-Deshmukh, appearing for the prosecution, handed over a letter from the Director of FSL dated December 13, 2024, about ongoing initiatives aimed at addressing these delays.
The bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Advait Sethna noted significant developments, including the implementation of a “semi-automatic” project and the establishment of a “Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics”.
The semi-automatic project, approved by the Home Department, received a work order on October 1, 2024, and aims to expedite cyber forensic investigations with upgraded tools and technologies.
Simultaneously, the Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics received administrative clearance on October 4, 2024, with hardware and software already in place. The infrastructure work for the semi-automatic project is reportedly progressing swiftly and is expected to be completed within four weeks.
Furthermore, under a government resolution dated November 21, 2022, IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was tasked with filling 125 Class-3 posts to enhance workforce capacity. Recruitment exams were conducted in September 2024, and the hiring process is currently underway.
The court was also assured that whenever forensic reports are sought under judicial orders, such cases will be prioritised and addressed out of turn. Additionally, mobilisation advances for both projects have been approved by the Home Department, ensuring financial readiness for their timely execution.
Expressing the need for clarity on the backlog, the court directed the Additional Public Prosecutor, VB Konde Deshmukh, to furnish detailed data on pending cases at FSL Mumbai and Thane by January 29, 2025.
The court’s directives underscore the critical role of forensic analysis in delivering timely justice, particularly in cybercrime cases where delays can significantly impact investigations. With these modernisation efforts underway, the state aims to streamline forensic processes and reduce existing backlogs efficiently.
