Pinky Anand: India Forensic Evidence SOPs Bolster SGBV & Child Abuse Cases

• Senior Advocate and Judge of the Bahrain International Commercial Court, Pinky Anand, advocated for improved forensic practices to strengthen cases of sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse without burdening survivors.
• Her remarks were made at a day-long workshop in Goa focused on implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for forensic evidence.
• The SOPs cover the collection, preservation, chain of custody, and presentation of forensic evidence in relevant cases.
• Anand formally launched these SOPs at the Police Headquarters in Panjim on April 26 last year, coinciding with World DNA Day, and they were later expanded to include child abuse cases.
• The workshop gathered police, prosecutors, judicial officers, and medical practitioners to discuss a victim-centred approach and practical evidence handling.

Anand emphasized that improved forensic methodologies must serve to fortify the prosecution's case in court, rather than establishing new, difficult thresholds of belief that survivors are compelled to overcome.

Senior Advocate and Judge of the Bahrain International Commercial Court, Pinky Anand, recently underscored the critical role of robust forensic practices in strengthening legal cases related to sexual and gender-based violence without imposing additional evidentiary burdens on survivors. Her remarks were made during a day-long training workshop held in Goa on Saturday, August 22. The event specifically concentrated on the practical implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) designed for the meticulous collection, preservation, chain of custody, and presentation of forensic evidence.

These comprehensive guidelines are applicable across a range of sensitive cases, including sexual assault, rape, and child abuse. Anand emphasized that improved forensic methodologies must serve to fortify the prosecution's case in court, rather than establishing new, difficult thresholds of belief that survivors are compelled to overcome. The workshop aimed to ensure that forensic evidence acts as an aid to justice, not an impediment.

The Standard Operating Procedures themselves were officially introduced by Ms. Anand at the Police Headquarters in Panjim on April 26 of the preceding year, coinciding with World DNA Day. Initially developed to address sexual and gender-based violence cases, these crucial guidelines were subsequently expanded to encompass the handling of forensic evidence in instances involving child abuse, reflecting a broader commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.

The Goa workshop convened a diverse group of stakeholders essential to the justice system, including police officers, prosecutors, judicial officers, and medical practitioners, alongside other professionals actively engaged in the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse cases. A central tenet of the discussions was the adoption of a victim-centred approach throughout the investigative process. Participants engaged in detailed conversations about ensuring survivors are treated with utmost dignity and sensitivity, while simultaneously adhering to due process requirements for evidence collection. The sessions also delved into the practicalities of gathering and preserving forensic material, maintaining its integrity through a secure chain of custody, and effectively presenting it in court.

For legal and compliance professionals in India, understanding these updated Pinky Anand India forensic evidence SOPs is paramount. The emphasis on a victim-centred approach, coupled with stringent guidelines for evidence handling, directly impacts how cases of sexual assault, rape, and child abuse are investigated and adjudicated. The former ASG's assertion that better forensic practice must strengthen the case that reaches the court highlights the transformative potential of these procedures.

These Standard Operating Procedures for forensic evidence in India are designed to streamline the process, ensuring that critical evidence is collected, preserved, and presented in a manner that withstands judicial scrutiny and supports the survivor's account, rather than creating additional hurdles. Lawyers and compliance officers must be intimately familiar with these protocols to ensure proper adherence, which is vital for securing convictions and upholding justice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse. The practical aspects covered, from collection to presentation, are directly relevant to case preparation and courtroom strategy.

Lawyers and compliance officers handling sexual assault, GBV, or child abuse cases in India must understand the new forensic evidence SOPs to ensure proper collection, preservation, and presentation of evidence, which can significantly impact case outcomes and survivor treatment.

Source: Reporting based on recent workshop discussions.