The Bombay High Court has directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to provide detailed data on pending cases at the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) in Mumbai and Thane over the past five years.

This directive emerged during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Eduedge Pro Pvt. Ltd., an educational technology company, which highlighted delays in forensic analysis, especially in cybercrime investigations.

Advocates Janhavi Karnik and Himanshu Kode, representing the company, sought the transfer of their case from the Bandra police station to an independent agency due to these delays.

The court, previously critical of the Maharashtra government’s slow pace in upgrading forensic facilities, took note of recent advancements, including a "semi-automatic" project and a "Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics." These initiatives, approved in October 2024, aim to accelerate cyber forensic investigations through upgraded tools and infrastructure.

To address workforce shortages, IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was engaged to recruit 125 personnel under a government resolution dated November 2022. Recruitment exams were conducted in September 2024, and the hiring process is ongoing.

The court was assured that forensic reports sought under judicial orders would be prioritized to prevent delays in justice delivery. It also emphasized the importance of reducing the existing backlog to facilitate timely investigations.

The Additional Public Prosecutor has been directed to submit comprehensive data on pending FSL cases by January 29, 2025, as the state continues its efforts to modernize forensic processes and enhance efficiency.