Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court issued a stern order on November 5 demanding immediate repairs at the Directorate of Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Shillong. Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh slammed the state for systemic neglect. Amicus curiae K Ch Gautam inspected the three-storey facility and found a decaying workspace. Damp walls and filth plague the building. A single cleaner serves the entire site, forcing scientists to scrub their own labs.
Technical staffing gaps are gutting core departments. Divisions ranging from Chemistry and Biology/DNA to Cyber Forensics and Ballistics face critical vacancies. Two Deputy Director posts and two Scientific Officer roles remain empty. One lone Scientific Officer currently handles the Cyber Forensic Unit and the Physical Division simultaneously. The bench noted that the current Director lacks a technical background, labeling it a "matter of serious concern" given the specialized work required.
Equipment failures have brought essential testing to a standstill. NDPS testing stopped due to broken gear in the Chemistry Division. DNA analysis stalled because the lab ran out of chemicals. The Cyber Forensics Unit lacks modern software, while other departments wait on basic hardware upgrades. A backup generator installed in 2024 fried after a power surge in September 2026. Repair requests have sat stalled at the Home (Police) Department for months. Officials warn that these gaps threaten trial outcomes.
The court reminded the state that time kills cases. "Deficiencies in forensic reports can also lead to acquittals," the bench warned. Judges ordered the state to fast-track approvals for equipment and consumables currently trapped in Finance Department bureaucracy. The government must fill vacancies immediately and may hire retired staff on contract to bridge the gap. The court awarded K Ch Gautam 50,000 rupees for his work. A progress report is due by the next hearing on November 19.
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