Delhi High Court Seeks SOP to Curb Unnecessary Referrals to Forensic Labs

The Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Government to consider framing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb unnecessary referrals to forensic science laboratories (FSLs), which delay urgent investigations.

A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya observed that such referrals often cause delays in investigations and lead to degradation of crucial samples.

The Court referred to an NHRC report stating that 30–40% of toxicology cases could proceed without FSL analysis.

The Government has been directed to review the matter and take an informed decision within three months, possibly by issuing guidelines to streamline FSL use.