Self Defense Classes for Girls, More Labs for testing Forensic Evidence: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court today directed both the Centre and Delhi Government to accelerate the setting up of new laboratories for the testing of blood samples, DNA, clothing and other material required for the prosecution of persons accused of rape..The Court also ordered digitization of data relating to the said samples..The Division Bench of Justices S. Ravindra Bhat and Yogesh Khanna stated that the Government should also actively consider self defense classes so as to arm and strengthen the girls and ensure their protection. The police resources should also be augmented to ensure security to women..The Court had taken suo moto cognizance of women safety after the Nirbhaya incident in 2012 and since then, has passed a series of orders to improve the safety of women in the country..The Chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal appeared before the court and stated that:.The state requires at least five laboratories for the testing of samples. However, presently there are only two.There is a huge backlog of cases wherein the samples have been collected but the tests have not been carried out.The blood samples deteriorate after a period of one year and thereafter no conclusive evidence can be derived.We have been hearing about the procurement of land for new laboratories for a very long time but nothing concrete has been done.Even if the infrastructure is not fully developed, we can at least have make shift arrangements so that the capacity for testing can be increased.Most of the police personnel are on VIP duties.Only a few formalities are to be completed for filling many vacant positions in the Police..Appearing for the Delhi Government Senior Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra submitted:.The Government agrees that there is requirement of at least five laboratories. It is proposed that at least twelve stories are required at each laboratory for carrying out the work effectively. Land has also been procured for the same.A high powered delegation was also sent to inspect the facilities at the two working laboratories.The laboratories are taking up equal number of new and old cases and are disposing off the cases as soon as possible.The capacities of the two laboratories have also been increased in order to be able to dispose off more cases.The process of digitization of data has also begun. However, since various technologies and software are required, it is taking some time.The State also proposes to release Rs. 40 crore for the welfare of rape victims within a week..Appearing on behalf of the Union of India, ASG Sanjay Jain informed the Court about the recruitment of police personnel in order to increase security. He stated that many positions have been filled and others are in the process of being filled. However, creation of new posts requires assistance of the Finance Ministry as there is an increase in the burden on the state. Therefore, there is some delay..The Court observed that:.“According to the experts, 1500 to 1700 samples in rape cases and around 1000 samples in murder cases are required to be tested in one year. This is not unmanageable. The Courts are doing three times the work which is pending in the laboratories.”.The Matter will be next heard on August 11.