Navigating The Genetic Frontier: Privacy, Ethics, And Legal Reforms in the Use of Forensic Evidence for Criminal Investigations in India

Abstract

Forensic evidence has transformed the field of Forensic Science and has been used to solve crimes and exonerate innocent individuals. But there are a lot of complex ethical and legal issues that come along with its growing use in court procedures, and those need to be taken into account. In light of these challenges, our research finds major loopholes in the existing legal framework and ethical guidelines. Stringent rules are in place for the integrity of Forensic evidence, including continuous chain of custody and approved lab procedures. However, due to inconsistencies among the various forensic laboratories, courts are at risk of wrongful convictions as a result of DNA testing mistakes made at laboratories, including due to such contamination or misinterpretation of data. A significant issue is the public safety versus private rights balance with regard to the storage and re-use of DNA samples. This paper examines the Indian scenario in the broader global debate on the use of Forensic evidence in the justice system in the face of an ever-evolving technological landscape, in order to contribute to the on-going debate on the governance of genetics and balancing national security, public welfare and individual rights in an ever-changing technological landscape.