Emphasising the importance of forensic science evidence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the government will amend Sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act to strengthen the laws in an effort to raise the conviction rate. Shah, who laid the foundation for an off-campus facility of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), said the country will need 8,000 to 10,000 forensic science experts every year for nine years to make forensic investigation compulsory for offences attracting punishment of more than six years. Highlighting the low conviction rates in India compared to some other countries, he said it is important to integrate the criminal justice system with forensic science-based investigations. “The conviction rate in Canada is 62%, in Israel 93%, England 80%, and it is 90% in the US. In India, the conviction rate is 50%. We cannot be lagging behind — if the law and order situation in the country has to be in order, the conviction rate needs to be increased," he noted.
