Reorganization on papers, no improvement in functioning
No Ballistics, Explosives experts; more to retire shortly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 16: In a bizarre move, the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory Jammu and Kashmir has set into motion an exercise for engagement of Masters of the School Education Department for manning key positions in its laboratories, a practice which has not been witnessed in any part of the country and amounts to undermining the role of forensic science in the criminal justice system.
Moreover, due to ‘unprofessional’ handling of affairs of the J&K FSL both the labs are on the crutches with no Ballistics, Explosives and Fingerprint experts for the past quite long time and situation will become complex as some more experts will attain the age of superannuation in the coming months.
The State Administrative Council headed by the then Governor of J&K Satya Pal Malik had in the month of October last year, while approving reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir Forensic Science Laboratory, gave nod to the creation of 88 additional posts of different categories to overcome the manpower crisis in this important wing of the criminal justice system.
However, till date no serious step has been initiated to fill up these posts by advertising the same despite the fact that after abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution of India, there is no dearth of suitable candidates to apply for these posts.
Rather, Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory vide Advertisement Notice dated November 5, 2020 has, with the approval of the Home Department, invited applications from in-service Masters of the School Education Department for filling up of 28 posts of Assistant Scientific Officers in Jammu and Srinagar labs on deputation basis initially for a period of two years.
These posts are Assistant Scientific Officer (ASO) Narcotics, ASO C&T, ASO DNA, ASO Biology/Serology, ASO Documents, ASO Cyber, ASO Physics and ASO Ballistics. No doubt Masters Degree in relevant subject has been mentioned as required qualification but such a practice has never been witnessed in any part of the country, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“Practically in the Forensic Science Laboratories the Assistant Scientific Officers should be the persons who have obtained additional qualification from the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science”, they said, adding “handling practical work in the relevant science subject in the schools is altogether different from the tasks being handled in the Forensic Science Laboratories as such this move of the Directorate is highly unjustified”.
How the reports signed by the Masters of the School Education Department would withstand the judicial scrutiny when the criminal cases will reach court of law remains a million dollar question, sources said.
Pointing towards the manpower crisis in the J&K FSL, they said, “while there is no headway in filling up of 88 posts created by the SAC, four Deputy Directors, seven Assistant Scientific Officers, five Lab Assistants and 98 Lab Attendants have already attained superannuation”, adding “in all 11 experts in different fields had retired last year and at present there is not even a single expert left in the field of Ballistics, Explosives, Fingerprints and Physics in both the labs”.
They informed that expert in the field of narcotics at FSL Srinagar had retired three months back and FSL Jammu will meet the same fate in the month of December this year when Deputy Director Chemistry/ Narcotics will also attain superannuation.
Last year, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir had directed for creation of separate division for narcotics examination while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). However, the Government only renamed Chemistry and Toxicology Division as Chemistry and Narcotics Division. In the recent past, large number of Ministerial staff was repatriated to the Police Department but there is no replacement till date as a result of which the FSL is facing acute shortage of even reporting staff, sources disclosed.
The intensity of crisis can further be gauged from the fact that out of 10 vehicles purchased during last financial year seven are gathering dust as drivers have been repatriated back to the Police Department and outsourcing of drivers failed to yield any response, sources further said, adding “for want of adequate manpower even vital equipments purchased by spending crores of rupees are lying unutilized since 2006”.
“Unless professionals in the field are placed as head of the J&K FSL there are remote chances of improvement in its functioning”, sources said.
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