K'taka HC asks Govt to strengthen FSL fingerprint bureau

Bangalore, Mar 28 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court has drawn the attention of the State Government towards the need for increasing fingerprint and handwriting experts in the Forensic Science Laboratory here for aiding in investigation of crimes and furnishing valuable circumstantial evidence to investigation officers.

Dismissing a Government appeal against the acquittal of a murder accused, Mr Justices Chidandanda Ullal and Jagannathan directed the Government to strengthen the fingerprint bureau of the Lab.

The Judges said they had drawn inspiration from the National Human Rights Commission report and Police Reforms report and suggested the appointment of fingerprint and handwriting experts as inspectors to assist FSL in its function, training police Sub-Inspectors in fingerprinting and handwriting examination for atleast six months during their probation, sending Assistant Inspectors and Head Constables on deputation for the training, and supplying and installing latest equipment for the purpose.

They directed the Court Registrar to forward a copy of the judgement to the Government for taking action.

The State Government had filed an appeal against the judgement of the Tumkur Sessions Court, acquitting one Marula Sidda alias Murali in the case relating to the murder of his wife Savita by strangulation. The prosecution had relied only on circumstantial evidence as there was no eye witness or direct evidence to prove the charges against the accused. The trial court, after careful and elaborate scrutiny of the evidence on record, had found that it was insufficient to convict the accused and acquitted him.

UNI XR GD SKB2130