Port Blair, Jan 3: Member of Parliament from north Kashmir, Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan, on Saturday strongly pitched for strengthening forensic science infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir during a Consultative Committee Meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs on NFSL-CFSU held at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and was attended by Members of Parliament of the Consultative Committee, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
During the deliberations, Ramzan, who is a Member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Home Affairs, actively participated and highlighted key issues related to the urgent need for strengthening forensic science and forensic laboratories across the country, with particular emphasis on J&K, where he said timely forensic support was critical for justice delivery, security, and lasting peace.
He underlined that the region was witnessing a rise in complex crimes, including cyber crimes, drug trafficking, explosives, and weapon-related offences, which require swift scientific investigation and reliable evidence collection.
Ramzan said that at present, a large portion of the forensic workload from J&K depends on the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Chandigarh, resulting in delays that adversely impact trials, facilitate bail for accused persons, and erode public confidence in the justice system.
He said that the Supreme Court had repeatedly affirmed that speedy trial was a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution, and that delays arising from investigation gaps, lack of scientific evidence, or slow forensic reports were unacceptable.
Ramzan said that reliable and timely forensic evidence was essential for fair trials and lawful convictions.
He highlighted that the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), India’s premier forensic university and an Institution of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs with headquarters at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, had limited training capacity in comparison to the needs of a country with a population of 1.42 billion.
Ramzan said that this limitation reinforced the urgent requirement for establishing new NFSU campuses in strategic regions such as J&K.
Drawing attention to the escalating drug abuse crisis in J&K, he cited the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (August 2023), which reported that nearly 13.5 lakh people in J&K were affected by substance abuse, including around 11.8 lakh adults and about 1.68 lakh children in the age group of 10 to 17 years.
Ramzan also referred to findings of IMHANS, Srinagar (2023), which indicate that more than 33,000 syringes are used daily by heroin-dependent persons in Kashmir alone, highlighting serious public health and security implications.
He emphasised the urgent expansion of rehabilitation and drug de-addiction centres, along with skill development and employment opportunities, to divert vulnerable youth away from drugs, crime, and social breakdown.
To address these challenges, Ramzan proposed the establishment of a full-fledged NFSU in J&K, with dedicated campuses in border districts, including Kupwara, along with modern forensic laboratories in border areas.
He noted that sensitive border districts face unique security and cross-border challenges, and such institutions would provide state-of-the-art forensic training, create a skilled cadre of professionals, generate employment, and offer productive avenues for youth, thereby discouraging involvement in crime, drug abuse, and other social menaces.
The Union Home Minister gave a patient hearing to these recommendations and assured that modernisation of forensic infrastructure, capacity building, and strengthening of border districts would receive focused attention to enhance security, law enforcement efficiency, and public trust.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also assured the deployment of 23 mobile forensic units across Jammu and Kashmir to enable rapid on-site crime-scene investigations, immediate evidence collection, and faster case processing, significantly reducing dependence on distant laboratories.
Emphasis was also laid on strengthening DNA analysis, cyber forensics, narcotics testing, and explosives examination to ensure comprehensive and timely forensic support across all categories of cases.