Staffing strain inside Telangana’s forensic labs, 91% scientific posts vacant

Staffing strain inside Telangana’s forensic labs, 91% scientific posts vacant

Telangana has emerged as the State with the highest vacancy rate of scientific personnel in forensic laboratories, with a staggering 91% of posts lying vacant, nearly double the national average of 49.1%.

In contrast, the administrative vacancy rate is just 7.7%, one of the lowest in the country.

The 2025 edition of the India Justice Report reveals that across all States, nearly half of the 7,997 sanctioned posts in various forensic laboratories remain unfilled, choking the criminal justice system and causing severe delays in investigation and trial processes.

Nationwide, only one-third of sanctioned scientific posts are occupied. District Mobile Forensic Units (DMFUs), which serve as first responders to crime scenes, are critically understaffed, with just 341 scientific personnel deployed across 582 units.

Interestingly, the forensic staffing scenario in Telangana reflects a stark imbalance between administrative and scientific personnel vacancies.

Administrative staff, including directors, additional directors, joint directors, deputy directors, and assistant directors, manage the labs’ operations, budgeting, infrastructure, and quality control. While scientific personnel - scientific officers, lab assistants, and attendants - perform forensic tests, analyse crime scene evidence, and prepare expert technical reports that are critical in the court.

Telangana’s forensic labs are particularly hamstrung despite the State’s otherwise strong policing indicators. With forensic science being central to securing convictions, especially in serious cases such as rape, murder, cybercrime, and other serious offences, the lack of qualified personnel has cascading effects.