Citing a failure to secure vital scientific evidence due to outdated laboratory equipment, the Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a rape and murder suspect while leveling sharp criticism at the Uttar Pradesh government’s forensic infrastructure.
In a ruling dated May 21, Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal expressed profound distress over being compelled to release the accused, identified as Manoj. The court stated that the state’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) was unable to link the suspect to the crime because it could not generate a complete DNA profile from the biological samples recovered from the victim.
Systemic Lab Failures Noted
The court observed that this was not an isolated incident, noting that incomplete DNA profiles frequently prevent laboratories from identifying suspects in similar cases. Justice Deshwal attributed these recurring failures directly to the state government’s neglect, stating that outdated machinery and inadequate basic infrastructure at the FSLs are responsible for the breakdown in scientific investigations.
According to the ruling, the state administration bears sole responsibility for these deficiencies, as it has focused on other matters at the expense of upgrading essential forensic resources.
Call For Urgent Government Reforms
To address these gaps, the High Court has directed its compliance registrar to send a copy of the ruling to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary for immediate presentation to the Chief Minister.
The court emphasized that the state government must urgently supply high-end diagnostic machinery to its forensic laboratories and recruit adequate staff to ensure the integrity of future criminal prosecutions.
