Case Explained: Meghalaya recognizes Aaranyak’s Wildlife Genetics Lab to boost scientific wildlife crime investigations – Legal Perspective

Guwahati, March 30: In a significant push towards science-led law enforcement in wildlife protection, the Government of Meghalaya has officially recognized the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory (WGL) of Aaranyak under Section 329(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023.

The notification, issued by the Forest and Environment Department following an order dated March 24, marks the first time Meghalaya has formally empanelled a wildlife genetics laboratory and expert under the BNSS framework. The move is expected to strengthen wildlife crime investigations through advanced forensic DNA analysis.

The decision was formalized by Principal Secretary M.K.B. Reddy and aims to leverage cutting-edge expertise in wildlife genetics to support law enforcement agencies in evidence collection, species identification, and prosecution of wildlife offences.

The BNSS, 2023—India’s overhauled criminal procedure law—mandates the use of forensic investigation in serious crimes, including mandatory crime scene examination, DNA evidence collection, and audiovisual documentation for offences punishable with seven years or more.

The recognition of WGL aligns wildlife crime enforcement in Meghalaya with this broader national shift towards evidence-based policing, reducing reliance on confessions and improving conviction rates.

The Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, established in 2008, is currently the only dedicated conservation genetics and wildlife DNA forensics facility in Northeast India. Over the past decade, it has supported nearly 200 wildlife crime investigations, offering genetic analysis and field-based DNA sampling for enforcement agencies.

Welcoming the development, WGL Director Udayan Borthakur said the recognition would significantly expand the lab’s role in assisting wildlife crime investigations in Meghalaya. He added that integrating forensic science into enforcement would lead to more robust evidence and higher conviction rates.

Notably, the Government of Assam had already accorded similar recognition to the Aaranyak lab last year under the BNSS, making Meghalaya the second state in the region to formally integrate the facility into its legal enforcement framework.
Apart from forensic casework, the laboratory has also led over 22 conservation genetics research projects on endangered species across India and beyond, reinforcing its dual role in law enforcement support and biodiversity conservation science.

Also Read: Meghalaya and the PNG Question: Opportunity or Risk?

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