The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to submit a report on the backlog in forensic laboratories dating back to 2020. The state informed the court that labs are currently examining samples from 2020, leaving little capacity for newer cases. Prosecutors attributed delays in a case registered in 2024 to this backlog.
The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government for a report on the backlog plaguing forensic laboratories since 2020. During the hearing before Justice Shivkumar Dige, the state informed the court that the labs are still processing samples from 2020, resulting in limited capacity for recent cases.
The issue arose in a murder case registered in 2024 at Vadgaon Maval Police Station in Pune district involving Mohan Shankar Turde. Prosecutors told the court that delays in this case, including analysis of CCTV footage, stem from the backlog.
The court directed the government to provide details on the reasons for the backlog and measures to address it.