In a landmark push for judicial efficiency, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has spearheaded a massive drive to slash pending cases in forensic labs, delivering rapid justice to victims across the state. Under the motto ‘Justice for All, Swift Justice,’ the state government is overhauling systemic bottlenecks in the legal process, with a sharp focus on new criminal laws.
The Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories, operating under judicial support, faced a staggering backlog of 181,000 cases at the start of 2025, compounded by 294,000 new filings. Responding decisively, CM Fadnavis ordered a high-intensity campaign, resulting in the clearance of 396,879 cases by the end of December 2025. This Herculean effort reduced pendency to just 79,542 cases—a testament to relentless execution.
Staff worked extended shifts from 8 AM to 8 PM, including public holidays, surpassing their standard capacity of 200,000-215,000 disposals by an extra 102,413 cases. The Conventional Forensic division alone resolved 396,275 cases, with new arrivals now analyzed on the day of receipt starting February 2026. Similar accelerations are underway in cyber, computer crime, audio-video, and sound departments.
This initiative ensures victims no longer endure years of waiting, fortifying a dynamic justice system. To bolster capabilities further, mobile forensic vans are being deployed to every sub-divisional police office. CM Fadnavis’s vision is transforming Maharashtra’s forensic infrastructure into a model of speed and reliability, setting a national benchmark for timely adjudication.
