Computerization of medico-legal reports & video-conferencing for giving evidence: G M C H, Chandigarh, experience

In Crl. Misc. No. M-19820 of 2011, [Rajpal @ Labh Singh & Anr. Vs State of Haryana] vide order dated 6th July 2011, Mr. Justice Rajesh Bindal, Honorable Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court, decreed that all medico-legal work in the states of Punjab, Haryana and the UT Chandigarh shall be computer typed from 1st September 2011. In compliance of this order, the department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GMCH, Chandigarh, indigenously developed fill-able Microsoft Word Templates of all the medico-legal performas, all the forms for forwarding various samples and specimens to different laboratories, subsequent opinion forms, etc. and started using them.

Since 01.09.2011, all the medico-legal work being done by the department was computer typed. The NIC Haryana developed the Med LEaPR software, based on the Medico-legal Manual of the Haryana state, in collaboration with the faculty of GMCH & PGIMER, Chandigarh; DHS Haryana and Chandigarh and Medical Officers from the three states. Since 7th January 2013, the department started using the MedLEaPR software for online preparation of the PMRs & MLRs.

Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High court, under the orders of Justice Hemant Gupta [State Of Punjab vs Mohinder Singh on 16th April, 2013 CRM No.18934 of 2013]decided that videoconferencing be started in the states & UT for recording evidence. In compliance of these orders, videoconferencing was started in GMCH, Chandigarh from 25th May 2015, after undergoing a number of trial runs and fine-tuning the equipment and the process.