Reliable sources disclose that more than 400 such cases are pending with the department at the DFSL which examines cases being investigated by the Delhi Police. While at least 50 new cases arrive at the laboratory every month, the department is officially capable of examining only 16 cases in a month's time.

Highly placed sources in DFSL told Express Newsline, ``We have only two experts working in the documents section. An expert can deal with a maximum of eight cases every month. However, due to the increasing pressure on us, each expert is forced to handle at least 16 cases every month. But even this does not help and the rate of those pending is still high.''

Experts claim that at times the report suffers because they are forced to handle more cases than they are equipped to examine. DFSL staffers argue that examination of each case takes time: ``For instance, in case of examination of a suicide case, if it can be ascertained after examining the victim's dairy and comparing it to the original handwriting that she had herself written about being tortured by her in-laws, then the latter can be arrested under charges of abetment of suicide.''

Thus, each case has to be carefully investigated because a report can change the very nature of the case. Hurrying up investigations will have no adverse impact.''

An expert at the DFSL disclosed that ``if a particular case requires urgent attention, it comes with notes attached to it that the report has to be submitted within a stipulated period. If a case does not have these notes, it might keep lying at the department for years and no one will bother to look into it.''

Though cases of murder and suicide receive priority at the DFSL over cases of cheating and forgery, a high pendency rate leads to a delay in justice. The only saving grace is that as the documents, unlike viscera, take a long time to be destroyed and the delay can always be remedied ``if the investigating officer starts taking interest and more staff are appointed.''