Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya issued an order on November 5 demanding the state government fix critical failures at the Shillong Directorate of Forensic Sciences Laboratory. A report from Amicus Curiae K. Ch. Gautam revealed the facility is falling apart. It suffers from filthy workstations, inadequate housekeeping, and a massive lack of personnel.
Only one cleaner maintains the entire three-storey building. Scientists currently handle their own janitorial duties. The laboratory faces severe staff gaps across Chemistry, Biology, DNA, Documents, Cyber Forensics, Ballistics, and Physics divisions. Two Deputy Director posts and two Scientific Officer positions sit empty. One scientist currently juggles the Cyber Forensic Unit and the Physical Division alone. The court noted the current Director lacks a technical background in forensic science, sparking worries over supervision.
Equipment failures have stalled essential work. The Chemistry Division cannot conduct NDPS testing. DNA exams stall due to a lack of chemicals. Cyber forensics uses outdated gear. The lab’s generator, installed in 2024, is broken following a power surge. Repair requests sit pending with the Home Department. Additional Advocate General N.D. Chullai confirmed that equipment purchases and repair requests await Finance Department approval. The court warned that these delays cripple criminal investigations and trials.
The bench stated, "The shortage of scientific and technical personnel also contributed significantly to delays in examination and reporting, particularly when the volume of cases exceeded the laboratory’s available capacity."
Judges directed the government to clear approvals, fill vacancies, and hire support staff immediately. They suggested hiring retired employees on contract to bridge the gap. The court ordered the state to pay the Amicus Curiae ₹50,000 for his work. Officials must file an affidavit detailing their progress by the next hearing on November 19.
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