Bill on DNA testing in Parliament soon: PC
The Centre will soon bring a bill in Parliament on DNA testing and set up a DNA data bank to strengthen forensic investigation, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Sunday.
“The country needs a law on DNA technology and for this a bill is in final stages,” he said at the inaugural session of the 20th All India Forensic Science Conference here.
Chidamabarm said the arms policy and the Arms Act are also under review and amendments will be finalised soon.
“A firearm data bank and a law on DNA testing are in the offing,” he said.
Asking scientists to adopt newer technologies and applications in forensic science, Chidambaram said Rs 300 crore will be spent on the expansion, modernisation and upgradation of forensic science laboratories (FSL) under the 11th Five Year Plan.
Six regional FSL, 52 mobile FSL units and six high-tech Central FSL are in the pipeline, he said.
“There is no dearth of fund for this,” Chidambaram said.
He said the year 2010 will be observed as the Forensic Science Year. A DNA data bank will be set up soon.
“Around 30 countries have DNA banks and India will have one soon,” he said.
Recalling his recent visit to the FSL in Washington, Chidambaram said India has a technology gap relating to software application and asked forensic experts to fill up this void by adopting new technologies.
Advocating the necessity for bringing crime scene to the court room, Chidambaram said that crime scenes must be totally preserved and protected for delivering justice.
