Amendment to CrPC, Evidence Act

Pre-case investigation, use of physical evidence proposed

13 January 2012, 18:00 PM

Bss, Dhaka

Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs is scrutinising proposals to amend Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Evidence Act. The proposal for CrPC allows police to start investigation into an offence before filing of a case, a system being practiced for a long time in many countries, said police officials. Moreover, the amendment to Evidence Act approves the examination of physical evidence such as blood, saliva, sweat and sperm to identify criminals. The ministry would also see whether such changes will hamper civil law proceedings or not, the ministry sources said. Existing laws do not have any provision for use of physical evidence though investigators are often using such evidence to catch criminals, especially in cases involving serious crimes. “Probe based on physical evidence will replace the age-old statement-based investigations,” said Saiful Alam, deputy inspector general of Criminal Investigation Department. Investigations based on physical evidence would help prevent innocent people from being accused in cases based on statements of criminals, said a police source. Inclusion of use of physical evidence in Evidence Act 1995 will not hamper the civil law, rather it will help proceedings under both criminal and civil laws, Advocate M Khurshid Alam Khan told the news agency yesterday. For example, DNA test could easily settle property disputes and identify criminals, he said, adding that such amendments would help law enforcers unearth crimes quickly.