Staff crunch hits JK FSL

Srinagar, Aug 27: With working of Jammu and Kashmir’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) getting “affected” due to shortage of staff, 90% of its officials would retire from services by 2020, KNS has learnt.
The FSL in both Jammu and Kashmir are facing shortage of staff. Official sources told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that police headquarters have been sending its personnel to FSL on deputation.
“These people have no expertise to work at the FSL, and help the investigating agencies in crime cases,” an official said.
As per the norms, each discipline of FSL should have one Deputy Director or Assistant Director, one Scientific Officer, two Assistant Scientific Officers, two Lab Assistants, and two Lab Attendants.
The official said that government was making no efforts to fill up these vacancies. “Around 40 percent staff has been brought from police headquarters, who have no expertise in dealing things at the FSL.”
The government has been appointing non-technical persons to head the FSL. “The Director FSL should have been a technical person, but the government is appointing non-technical bureaucrats,” the official said.
The Director, official said should be a technical person as per the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
“How will he check investigation reports, corroborating evidence, monitor DNA tests, finger prints tests?” an official posted at FSL Srinagar, asked. “The promotion process of employees is stranded since years.”
Sources said that at least 90 percent of its employees would get retired from services by 2020. “If government fails to make recruitment, then the FSL will be shut or the government has to bring experts from outside the state to run the laboratory,” the official said.
The FSL Jammu according to sources is most affected. “In most of the departments, there is absence of experts and material is either being sent to Srinagar or outside the states for analysis,” the official said.
Joint Director FSL told KNS that government was aware about shortage of staff. “Efforts are on to fulfill the Staff shortages.” he said.
It is to mention here that the state government had admitted that the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) is running short of its sanctioned strength.
The previous PDP- BJP government in a written reply to State Assembly had said that out of the 20 sanctioned posts in the department, nine were lying vacant.