Meghalaya High Court Asks Centre, State To Examine Feasibility Of Independent Forensic Science Laboratory

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh passed the said direction while hearing a Suo Motu PIL registered pursuant to Supreme Court directions in Sunny Chauhan v. State of Haryana.

The Apex Court vide said order, while proposing various suggestions to ensure expeditious disposal of bail applications in High Courts, requested Chief Justices of High Courts to engage with State governments and other authorities to ensure forensic science laboratory reports are furnished within a reasonable time.

The High Court in the present PIL is concerned with the two issues:

1. Adequacy of the FSL infrastructure and facilities in the State of Meghalaya and the timely submission of FSL reports in criminal cases.
2. The existing mechanism for uploading and sharing status reports in criminal cases, including the feasibility of developing a digital police portal for ensuring their timely availability prior to the scheduled hearings.

In this context, the Court directed the Registry to implead the Directorate of Central Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi and the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Meghalaya as party respondents.

The Court further directed the Additional Advocate General to file affidavit-in-reply within three weeks.

“In the meantime, we request both the newly added respondents to examine the feasibility of establishing an independent FSL in the State of Meghalaya,” the Court observed.

The Court also appointed Advocate K. Ch. Gautam as Amicus Curiae to assist the Court in the PIL.

Case Title: Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya v. State of Meghalaya & Ors.

Case No.: PIL No. 12/2026