India to have DNA related laws soon: Chidambaram - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the Central Government would soon bring out a bill in parliament on DNA testing. Addressing the 20th All India Forensic Science conference here on Sunday, Chidambaram said: "In the lights of modern science and advances technological, the nature of crimes and criminals' modus operandi had been changed and this necessitated due changes and upgradation in crime investigation and prosecution system." "I understand that a bill on DNA testing is in the final stages and very soon we will have DNA related laws. 30 countries already have such laws and therefore we should also have such a law," he added. India plans to spend rupees three billion on the expansion, modernization and upgradation of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) under the Central Government's 11th Five-Year Plan. Chidambaram also said that 2010 would be observed as forensic science year. "In the Government of India we have the will, we have the determination, we offer you our support. I seek your cooperation in making 2010 a year of forensic science as far as forensic laboratories are concerned," he added. A DNA data bank would be set up soon, he said, adding that six more regional forensic science laboratories, 52 new mobile units, three Hi-tech central forensic science laboratories and three Hi-tech GFUD Centres were also in the pipeline.