THRISSUR: This is one dubious distinction the Kerala Police could gladly do without - it is perhaps the only police force in the country not to have appointed candidates with forensic science qualification as scientific officers. Even the recommendations of the Supreme Court and Justice V S Malimath Committee to increase the strength of suitably qualified forensic scientists, besides those of Justice K T Thomas Committee set up by the state government have been glossed over. According to the K T Thomas Panel, scientific officers should make up at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the police force.
Consequently, the number of scientific officers in Kerala State Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram and the Regional Forensic Science Labs here and in Kannur totals a mere 64 instead of the stipulated 500. M S Sivaprasad, secretary, Indian Criminology and Forensic Association, told Express none of the universities in Kerala offers the forensic science course. In stark contrast, several varsities outside the state started offering the course almost half a century ago.
Despite the Kerala High Court order in 2014 which said the government should consider those who had successfully completed the forensic science course for the post of scientific advisors, it has not spurred any action. Moreover, physics, biology, chemistry, botany and zoology master’s degree holders are still being recruited as scientific advisors. Sivaprasad said this is affecting evidence collection and also undermining criminal investigation. As per K T Thomas Panel’s recommendation, the state’s 19 police districts should each have a minimum of one scientific officer.
However, in several districts, there are no officers and the forensic team from the neighbouring district has to be summoned in the event of an emergency. Sivaprasad said in the absence of enough hands, over 5,000 cases are pending at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram. A similar situation prevails at the regional labs. Annamma John, former associate director, Thrissur Regional Forensic Science Lab, said a State Institute of Forensic Science should be set up at the earliest.
Director of Forensic Science Lab, K P Jayakumar told Express the existing rules did not provide for forensic science graduates to be recruited as scientific advisors. However, the government has decided to go in for an amendment of the prescribed qualifications for candidates and the new order is likely to be issued within six months. Jayakumar said even the Central Forensic Science Lab had started recruiting forensic science graduates only a year ago. Since then the government had been giving it a serious thought.