MARGAO: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Centre intends to make forensic investigation mandatory for all criminal offences which are liable for six years of imprisonment.
Addressing a gathering after performing the bhoomi-puja of the National Forensic Science University at Dharbandora, Shah said lack of trained experts in forensic science was leading to an increase in pendency of criminal cases in courts.
To ensure forensic investigation is made mandatory for such crimes, Shah said it was necessary to set up forensic laboratories in over 600 districts and to provide a mobile forensic van at the level of every police subdivision.
As this requires availability of at least 40,000 forensic scientists, Shah said the National Forensic Science University has been established to provide education in various disciplines of forensic science to students that would provide them assured placement.
Shah urged Goa CM Pramod Sawant to popularise forensic science among school students. “Just as a large number of sailors come from Goa, let Goa also produce large number of forensic scientists over the next 10 years,” he said.
Shah said apart from providing forensic education to students, the forensic university will also conduct diploma courses for police officers, judicial officers, people related to cyber security and security personnel of private companies.
He also asked the university authorities to formulate courses related to tourist safety, coastal policing, drugs and narcotics control, among others in the interest of Goa’s tourism sector. He said it would also effectively control the law and order situation.
Shah said the forensic university was first conceived by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi when he was the CM of Gujarat. “Modi worked to begin the first forensic field university in the whole world and when he became the PM, he established the National Forensic Science University,” he said.