PANAJI
Forensic evidence in cases of sexual assault can be lost within hours, making the initial response at the crime scene critical to the outcome of a case, former Additional Solicitor General of India Dr Pinky Anand has warned, stressing the need for strict adherence to standard procedures for collecting, preserving and presenting such evidence before courts.
“The evidence that decides the case is often gone within hours,” Anand said, pointing out that a survivor may bathe, clothes may be washed or a crime scene may be cleaned, making evidence that was not collected during the crucial initial window impossible to recover.
Her remarks came as Goa moved to strengthen implementation of its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for forensic evidence in cases of rape, sexual assault, gender-based violence and child abuse. The SOPs, which were formally launched in Goa on World DNA Day last year, have now been expanded to cover forensic-evidence handling in cases involving child abuse. The objective is to ensure that evidence collected at the earliest stage remains scientifically reliable and legally admissible through the investigation and trial. Anand stressed that SOPs were necessary to ensure an unbroken chain of custody capable of withstanding scrutiny during trial. She also pointed to provisions of the BNSS, 2023, concerning the prompt medical examination of women in sexual offence cases and the role of forensic experts at crime scenes, including videography of evidence collection in specified serious offences.
Importantly, Anand cautioned that stronger forensic procedures should not create an additional burden for survivors. “Better forensic practice must strengthen the case that reaches the court it must never become a fresh threshold of belief that survivors are asked to clear,” she said.
Bombay High Court judge Justice Dr Neela Gokhale also underscored the importance of forensic evidence and the need to standardise procedures, citing examples from her judicial experience. The SOPs emphasise coordination between police, medical professionals, prosecutors and the judiciary, covering evidence collection, preservation, chain of custody and its presentation in court. DGP Alok Kumar said the State's law enforcement agencies were committed to ensuring best practices in forensic evidence collection and providing effective support to victims and their families.
