Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh while addressing a gathering at Junga after performing the foundation stone laying ceremony of Forensic Headquarter Complex at Junga in Shimla district to cost Rs. 10 crore, said that the state Forensic Science Laboratory ( FSL) was playing a pivotal role in serving the society in a holistic manner by way of providing quality reports in both criminal and civil cases in public interest thereby encouraging use of forensic inputs to put investigations on the right track in the very beginning thus saving time of investigating agencies and serving people from unwarranted inconvenience.
“The government is committed for progressive growth and development of the institution in future and equip it with all modern facilities” he said, adding that scientific evidences play a vital role in solving the crime. Modern technology in today’s world needs to be adopted in more effective manner as it is necessary to put in use the digital knowledge in the present cyber world, as more digital evidences are encountered in day to day investigations in field of forensic sciences. The same type of forensics labs had also been opened in Dharamsala and Mandi and they would also be strengthened and provided all facilities.
Chief Minster said that forensic science is a multi-disciplinary and multi-professional science for the forensic specialists and non- specialists alike including the police officers, lawyers and judges assisting the criminal justice system to disseminate real justice and providing guidelines to lawyers and other investigating officers.
Shri Virbhadra Singh evinced keen interest in the exhibition set up by FSL referring to various methods of solving and probing the crime through new techniques like Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) and Disaster Victim Identification Cell (DVI), one of its kind in India, which was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also released new logo of state FSL and the documentary containing the history of state FSL since its set-up in 1988.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated the video conferencing facility for dealing with court evidences online. He also launched the new website of the forensic science laboratory besides releasing a souvenir.
The Chief Minister also honoured Retired DGP, Shri I.B.Negi and Founder of Forensic Science laboratory, Shri B.R. Sharma for their services and valuable inputs for making FSL a pioneering scientific investigating institution during their service. He also announced Rs 50 lakh for modernisation and equipments for FSL.
Earlier, the Chief Minister, inaugurated Himachal Pradesh Home Guard and Civil Defence Joint Training Institute at Sargheen near Panthaghati, Shimla, completed with an outlay of Rupees five crore.
MLA, Shri Anirudh Singh, also welcomed the Chief Minister to his constituency and thanked him for dedicating the Home Guard training centre at Sargheen and laying foundation stone of the Forensic headquarters complex which would further strengthen the working of FSL and facilitating better streamlining of criminal justice system.
Director, Forensic laboratory, Shri Arun Sharma also welcomed and honoured the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests on the occasion. He also detailed about the milestones achieved by the state FSL since its formation, which now has emerged the leading forensic science laboratory dealing with solving crime cases in a scientific manner successfully. He also demanded setting up of Forensic Academy and to bring all forensics facilities under one roof
Commandant 1st HP Armed Police Battalion Junga, Shri Sunil Kumar, Shri Vir Vikram Sen of erstwhile Junga estate, Deputy Commissioner, Shri Dinesh Malhotra were also present on the occasion amongst others.