NEW DELHI: Days before the new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam – come into force, the Union Cabinet has cleared a significant national forensic infrastructure upgrade scheme envisaging expansion of the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) network and setting up of more National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) campuses.
The components of the Rs 2,254 crore National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday include establishment of more NFSU campuses and CFSL facilities across the country, besides enhancement of infrastructure at NFSU’s Delhi campus. Financial outlay for the central sector scheme – to be implemented between 2024-25 and 2028-29 – will be met out of the home ministry’s own budget.
The strengthening and upgrade of forensic capabilities nationwide is expected to take care of the higher demand for forensics in investigation of crimes under the new criminal laws, which come into effect from July 1, as they provide for mandatory forensic examination of the crime scene and evidence for offences punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more. An MHA spokesperson said the new criminal laws will significantly increase the workload of forensic laboratories, which are currently grappling with a lack of trained forensic manpower.
Stressing on the need for significant investment and enhancement in national forensic infrastructure to enable the smooth rollout of BNS, BNSS and BSA, the home ministry said the establishment of additional off-campuses of the NFSU and new CFSLs would address the shortage of trained forensic manpower in the country. This way the case load or pendency of forensic laboratories will be reduced and the Govt of India’s goal of securing a high conviction rate of more than 90%, can become a reality, it added.
Home minister Amit Shah, in a post on ‘X’, thanked PM Modi for the “landmark decision to bolster India’s criminal justice system by opening a chain of state-of-the-art forensic laboratories and NFSU campuses across the nation”. “The Rs 2254.43 crore project will not only ensure the training of manpower in forensic sciences but also enhance speedy and immaculate justice delivery to everyone,” he stated.
MHA spokesperson said the NFIES “underscores the importance of high quality, trained forensic professionals in the timely and scientific examination of evidence for an efficient criminal justice process, leveraging the advancements in technology & evolving manifestations and methods of crime”.
The components of the Rs 2,254 crore National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday include establishment of more NFSU campuses and CFSL facilities across the country, besides enhancement of infrastructure at NFSU’s Delhi campus. Financial outlay for the central sector scheme – to be implemented between 2024-25 and 2028-29 – will be met out of the home ministry’s own budget.
The strengthening and upgrade of forensic capabilities nationwide is expected to take care of the higher demand for forensics in investigation of crimes under the new criminal laws, which come into effect from July 1, as they provide for mandatory forensic examination of the crime scene and evidence for offences punishable with imprisonment of seven years or more. An MHA spokesperson said the new criminal laws will significantly increase the workload of forensic laboratories, which are currently grappling with a lack of trained forensic manpower.
Stressing on the need for significant investment and enhancement in national forensic infrastructure to enable the smooth rollout of BNS, BNSS and BSA, the home ministry said the establishment of additional off-campuses of the NFSU and new CFSLs would address the shortage of trained forensic manpower in the country. This way the case load or pendency of forensic laboratories will be reduced and the Govt of India’s goal of securing a high conviction rate of more than 90%, can become a reality, it added.
Home minister Amit Shah, in a post on ‘X’, thanked PM Modi for the “landmark decision to bolster India’s criminal justice system by opening a chain of state-of-the-art forensic laboratories and NFSU campuses across the nation”. “The Rs 2254.43 crore project will not only ensure the training of manpower in forensic sciences but also enhance speedy and immaculate justice delivery to everyone,” he stated.
MHA spokesperson said the NFIES “underscores the importance of high quality, trained forensic professionals in the timely and scientific examination of evidence for an efficient criminal justice process, leveraging the advancements in technology & evolving manifestations and methods of crime”.
