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12. Learned counsel for the petitioner for substantiating her claim that after washing it was not possible that 18 out of 20 LOCI would match with DNA profiling of deceased, has referred study published in Herald Scholarly Open Access, wherein analysis .

of DNA degradation index due to washing has been made.

13. In my opinion, the said study is of no help to the petitioner, as in present case, it is not case of the petitioner that pants was washed in water temperature of more than 30°C or at 60-90°C. Whereas, study says that DNA degradation index is significantly affected with respect to washing on high temperature with detergent application. Following paras of Discussion of study may be relevant, which reads as under:-

Our research showed that the DNA degradation index in overall sample set, regardless of washing temperature and use of detergent, increases significantly with the time interval between washing of the bloodstained cotton fabric and the DNA analysis. The highest DNA degradation index values were measured in the sample group that had been analyzed six months after washing. Analysis of the DNA degradation index in the samples showed that washing temperature at 95 and 60°C cause a significantly higher degree of DNA degradation than washing the bloodstained cotton fabric at 30°C. Those results could be interpreted by well-known data in literature that the time and also higher temperatures are increasing degradation of DNA molecules [4,12,16], depending on the length of action of the temperature."

14. Following para of conclusion of the study may also be relevant, which reads as under:-

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"Our research revealed that washing temperatures of 95°C and 60°C cause faster DNA degradation of remained blood on cotton fabric after washing, compared to washing procedures at 30°C. The use of detergent during the washing process of bloodstained cotton fabric further increases DNA degradtino in time of the remained blood on the fabric after washing, for washing temperatures at 95°C and 60°C. Contrary to those results, use of deergent while washing of bloodstained cotton fabric 30°C does not accelerate degradation process of DNA. Our results pointed out that detergent application accelerates degradation of DMA, if laundering process was performed at 95 or 60°C, but not at 30°C. The effect of detergent to DNA degradation is most evident between 1 and 3 months after washing procedure. Higher washing temperatures (95 and 60°C) and detergent application during washing bloodstained cotton fabric show a synergistic effect to accelerated DNA degradation process on blood remaining on cotton fabric after washing."

15. As per aforesaid study, DNA degradation has been found most evident between 1 and 3 months after washing procedure and also if laundering process was performed at 95 or 60°C, but not at 30°C, therefore, in a simple washing of clothes possibility of DNA degradation is less and presence of DNA for matching with DNA profiling of deceased to the extent of 18 LOCI is not impossible. However, it is clarified that no opinion on merit with respect to evidentiary value of DNA profiling, possibility of matching thereof, is being expressed by this Court, but aforesaid discussion is only with reference to study material placed on record by learned counsel for the petitioner with respect to DNA profiling degradation.