Mumbai: HC slams police, forensics for 'utter disregard' to SOP compliance

The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has voiced dissatisfaction over the failure to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure SOP for the collection and preservation of evidence in cases of sexual offencesThe division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Abhay Waghwase in their judgment on Tuesday criticized the police and forensic experts for displaying utter disregard for the prescribed SOP reflecting what they described as a very insensitive attitudeThe High Court took this stance while quashing an order from a special court in Maharashtras Parbhani district which had convicted a 21yearold man for allegedly raping a sixyearold girl in 2018 The court also overturned the life sentence imposed on the accused citing the prosecutions failure to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and extending the benefit of doubt to the defendantExpressing serious doubt about the collection and preservation of evidence in the case the High Court emphasized the need for sensitivity among all stakeholders including medical experts police forensic experts and prosecutors The court highlighted the importance of adhering to guidelines issued by the health and home ministries of the government of IndiaWe expect periodic sensitization of all stakeholders by conducting regular workshops and seminars of all such stakeholders at one venue and at the same time Such a platform could be used for interactions amongst themselves to meet the legal requirements the High Court statedIn a directive to the state government the court called for the organization of periodic sensitization programs for all stakeholders and suggested that authorities keep themselves wellinformed about the guidelines issued by relevant ministriesThe case involved an accusation that in November 2018 the accused man assaulted the victim as she was returning home taking her to an abandoned building nearby where he allegedly raped her The girl reported the incident to her father leading to a police complaint and subsequent arrest of the manThe accused in his appeal claimed he was falsely implicated citing vague identification by the girl and alleging lapses and deviations by medical experts police and forensic experts during evidence collectionThe High Court in its order highlighted noncompliance with the SOP laid down for the collection maintenance and safe custody of biological and nonbiological evidence It expressed dismay at the state of affairs in handling evidence in a serious case of rape on a minorThe court noted that lapses and defects in evidence collection had rendered the entire evidence doubtful and could not be the basis for conviction despite the serious nature of the offenceIn addition to directing the state government to formulate guidelines for test identification parades in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act the High Court called for suggestions on a Standard Operating Procedure considering the confidentiality of victim details and precautionary measures during identification paradesThe compensation amount of Rs 46000 directed by the special court for the victim was deemed meagre and inadequate by the High Court The court instructed the Parbhani District Legal Services Authority to conduct an inquiry into the victims status and recommend appropriate steps for meaningful rehabilitation if the victim has not received compensation from the state government With inputs from agencies