CHANDIGARH, May 2 -- The Punjab cabinet on Friday gave its nod to set up a directorate of forensic science services in the state to ensure speedy investigations into crimes.

A spokesperson for the chief minister's office said the decision was taken in the meeting chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann.

"Earlier known as the forensic science laboratory, the directorate will now be under the control of the department of home affairs," the spokesperson was quoted in a release.

The nomenclature of regional testing forensic science laboratories will now be regional forensic science laboratories working under directorate of forensic sciences (DFS), and the chief chemical examiner laboratory at Kharar will be integrated into DFS as a special...