Central Forensic Science Lab To Be Established In Thiruvananthapuram, Centre Tells Kerala High Court

The Central Government on Friday (April 10) informed the Kerala High Court that it has identified a place in Thiruvananthapuram to set up a Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CSFL).

The Deputy Solicitor General of India (DSGI) submitted before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran that she received instructions from the Directorate of Forensic Science Services that the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the establishment of a CFSL in Kerala and a place has already been identified in Trivandrum vide a communication dated 03/09/2024.

The plea before the Court was by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) outlining among others, the issue of high pendency of NDPS trials due to lack of sufficient scientific officers in the Forensic Science labs.

Recording the DSGI's submission, the Court directed that the communication be placed on record, with an advanced copy given to the State Attorney.

"The actions, if any, taken by the State government based on that communication may be placed on record by the next posting," the Court added.

State Attorney submitted that an order was recently passed by the State government to create 19 more posts of Scientific Officers in the FSLs in Kerala: 5 in Biological, 3 in Chemistry and 11 in Documents sections.

This was also recorded by the Court and the State was directed to place the same on record. Additionally, a direction was passed to the Kerala State Public Service Commission to take steps for follow-up:

"We direct the Public Service Commission to take necessary follow up action as expeditiously as possible. PSC to file a report on the action taken to fill up the additionally created 19 posts."

The matter is posted on the 2nd week of June.

Case No: W.P.(C) No. 16773 of 2020

Case Title: Kerala State Legal Services Authorities v. State of Kerala and Ors.