Forensic science laboratories and facilities

It includes the topics related to forensic science laboratories, role of FSLs, Role of Forensic Scientist and facilities provided by various FSLs

1. Forensic Science
Laboratories & Facilities
BY SHREYAS PATEL

2. DFSS:Directorate of Forensic
Science Services
Established in 2002-03
M.S.Raowas the founder director of DFSS
Role of DFSS:
1.It helps in administration of justice system and provide
knowledge &facilities to various training programmes to people
involved with justice delivery.
2.It provides the Scientific aid in criminal justice system.
3.It guides, regulates and controls the working of forensic science
Liberatores and GEQDs.
4.Provides financial & technical help to state Forensic Labs.
(SFSLs)
5.Promotes Research & Development
6.To access and reviethe current procedure & practices in labs.
Gov. of India
MHA (ministry of Home
Affairs)
DFSS
Forensic labs
&
GEQDs
CFSL, New
Delhi
(CBI)

3. Forensic science laboratories
CFSL SFSL RFSL MFSL
CFSL : Central Forensic Science Laboratory
SFSL : State Forensic Science Laboratory
RFSL : Regional Forensic Science Laboratory
MFSL : Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory

4. CFSL : Central Forensic Science
Laboratory
DFSS
CFSL
Kolkata
CFSL
Chandigarh
CFSL
Bhopal
CFSL
Hyderabad
CFSL
Guwahati
CFSL
Pune

5. CFSL : Central Forensic Science
Laboratory & GEQD
Sr. No Name Of Organization Year of establishment
1 GEQD (Shimla) 1906
2 CFSL Kolkata 1957
3 CFSL (GEQD) Kolkata 1966
4 CFSL Hyderabad 1967
5 CFSL (GEQD) Hyderabad 1968
6 CFSL Chandigarh 1978
7 CBI CFSL New Delhi -
There are total 28 State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) working in India.

6. Other Forensic science related
institutes
1.Central Finger Print Bureau (CFPB) : Kolkata
2.Central Detective Training School (CDTS) : Kolkata, Hyderabad,
Chandigarh, Jaipur, Ghaziabad
3.Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
4.Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
5.Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)
6.Crime Investigation Department (CID)

7. Educational set up of forensic
science in india
•Chemicalexaminer’slaboratories
Duringthe19thcentury,whenthecasesofdeathduetopoisoningposedaproblemtothelaw
enforcementagencies,aneedwasfeltforisolating,detectingandestimatingvariouspoisons
absorbedinthehumansystem.ThefirstChemicalExaminer’sLaboratorywas,therefore,setupfor
thispurposeatthethenMadrasPresidency,undertheDepartmentofHealth,during1849.Later,
similarlaboratoriesweresetupatCalcutta(1853),followedbyoneeachatAgra(1864)and
Bombay(1870).Theselaboratorieswereequippedtohandletoxicologicalanalysisofviscera,
biologicalanalysisofstainsofblood,semen,etc.andchemicalanalysisoffood,drugs,andvarious
excisablematerialstoprovidescientificsupporttothecriminaljusticedeliverysystemwithintheir
limitedmeans.TheselaboratoriesalsoprovidedanalyticalfacilitiestotheneighbouringStatesand
UnionTerritories.

8. •Anthropometric bureau
Whilesomeprogresswasmadeintheidentificationofpoisons,theidentificationof
people,specificallycriminals,wasstillbeingdoneinaratherhaphazardmanner.Policemen
wouldtrytomemorizeconvict’sfacesothattheycouldrecognizehimifhegotinvolvedin
anothercrimelater.WiththeintroductionofPhotography,theCriminalInvestigation
Department(CID)maintainedrecordsofeveryknowncriminalincludingadetaileddescription
ofhisappearance.WiththeinventionofBertillon’santhropometricsystemin1878,India,along
withtheothercountriesoftheworld,adaptedBertillon’ssystemofpersonnelidentificationand
thusanAnthropometricBureau,formaintaininganthropometricrecordsofcriminals,was
establishedin1892atCalcutta.
•Department of explosives
Whentheuseofexplosivesforsubversiveactivitiesbecamecommon,itwasfound
necessarytodetectthecausesofexplosion,eitheraccidentalorintentional.Thefoundationof
theDepartmentofExplosiveswaslaidwhenthefirstchiefinspectorofexplosiveswas
appointedintheyear1898,withhisheadquartersatNagpur.Later,fiveregionalofficesat
Calcutta,Bombay,Agra,MadrasandGwalior,andthreesub-officesatShivkashi.Gomiaand
Asallsolwereopened.Theydevelopedcompetencetoprovidescientificcluesinrespectof
explosivesaswellasthepossiblecausesofexplosions.Theirexpertisecamehandyinpolice
investigationsinthecrimesrelatedtoexplosionsandforevolvingvariousprovisionsunderthe
Explosives&PetroleumAct.

9. •Finger print bureau
WilliamHerschel,theCollectoroftheDistrictofBengalfoundthatmarkingsonthefingertipsofaperson
neverchangedduringhislifetime.Herschelappliedhisknowledgeandskillindevisingasystemof
registrationoffingerorthumbimpressionsofnativecontractorstosafeguardtheinterestsoftheGovt.
againsttherepudiationofcontractsbythem.Thereafter,heextendedhisregistrationproceduretoprison
regulationsforidentifyingconvictedcriminals.In1877,Herschelsoughttheconsentofhissuperiorofficers
inputtinghisideasintopractice,butdidnotsucceed.In1891,EdwardRichardHenry’sappointment,the
InspectorGeneralofPoliceinBengal,introducedthethumbimpressionsintherecordslips,containing
anthropometricdata,toavoidwrongidentification.Longbefore1897,heintroducedmaintenanceof
duplicate criminal records with impressions of 10 fingers separately.
HenryemployedfewselectedIndianpoliceofficers,viz.KhanBahadurAzizulHuqandRaiBahadurHem
ChandraBosetoworkunderhisgeneralsupervisiontilltheclassificationwasevolved,whichremainsthe
basicsystemevento-day.ItwasKhanBahadurAzizulHuqwhoevolvedamathematicalformulato
supplementHenry’sideaofsortingslipsin1024pigeonholes,basedonfingerprintpatterns.RaiBahadur
HemChandraBosemadefurthercontributiontothefingerprintsciencebyevolvinganextendedsystemof
sub-classification,atelegraphiccodeforfingerimpressionandasystemofsingle-digitclassification.
HenryapproachedtheGovernmenttoseekapprovalforreplacingtheanthropometricdatabyfingerprintsfor
theidentificationofhabitualcriminals.Governmentreadilyagreed,andthefirstfingerprintbureauinthe
worldwasofficiallydeclaredopenatCalcuttainJuly1897,althoughthecollectionofrecordslipshadstarted
afewyearsearlier.Thus,thepersonnelidentificationsolelyonthebasisoffingerprintscommencedinIndia.

10. •Government examiner of questioned document, Shimla
TheBritishGovernmentofBengalfeltthenecessityofidentifyingthehandwritingsonthesecret
documentsconnectedwiththeIndianindependencemovementand,therefore,createdthepostof
GovernmentHandwritingExpertofBengal.Mr.CRHardless,thethenSuperintendentintheA.G.’s
officeinBengal,wasappointedtothispostin1904.Thisset-upwasshiftedtoShimlaintheyear
1906andwasplacedunderthecontroloftheDirector,CID.ApostofHandwritingExpertforthe
GovernmentofIndiawascreatedandMr.CRHardlesswasappointedtothispost.Hewasreplaced
byMr.FBrewester,apoliceofficerfromtheWestBengalCID,andwasdesignatedasthe
GovernmentExaminerofQuestionedDocuments(GEQD).
Atfirst,theworkofthisofficewasmainlyconfinedtotheidentificationofwritingsonsecret
documents.Later,astheapplicationofthisbranchofsciencewasfeltinmanyothercases,the
servicesofthisofficewerethrownopentocriminalaswellascivilcourtcases.DuringtheWorldWar
II,thisorganizationtookuptheadditionalworkofsecretcensorship,includingthedetectionof
invisiblewritingsandtrainingofmilitarypersonnel inthisfieldofscience.
•Ballistics laboratory
In1930,anArmsExpertwasappointedandasmallballisticlaboratorywassetupunderthe
CalcuttaPolicetodealwiththeexaminationoffirearms.Asthemenaceoffirearmsgrew,other
StateCIDsalsoestablishedsmallballisticslaboratoriestohelptheminthecriminalinvestigation.

11. •Serologist to the government of India
When the science of examining human blood developed in India, it became possible to examine
blood and seminal stains in criminal investigations. Realisingthe importance of Forensic Serology, an
institute named as Serology Department’ was established in Calcutta in 1910. The head of this
institute was designated as Imperial Serologist to the Government of India. Dr. Hankinhelped in
establishing this department. Though the scientific techniques for serological examination were at the
infancy stage, this institute provided valuable scientific support by analyzing biological materials for
crime investigations. After independence, the department was renamed as ‘Office of the Serologist
and Chemical Examiner to the Government of India’.
•Footprint section of criminal investigation department
Duringtheyear1915,aFootprintSectionwasestablishedundertheCID,Governmentof
Bengal,whichhelpedthepoliceauthoritiestoidentifycriminalsthroughtheexaminationoffootprints
collectedfromthesceneofcrime.SMEdwardesrecordedthefollowinginstanceinhisbook‘Bombay
CityPolice’showingtheuseofthefootmarksinpolicework.‘Onseveraloccasions,Indianconstables
distinguishedthemselvesbyactsofbraveryandexamplesofprofessionalacumen.Thedetectionofa
burglaryintheshowroomofanEnglishfirmwasentirelyduetotheactionofaHinduconstable,who
noticedonapieceoffurniturethemarksofafootpossessingcertainpeculiarities,whichhe
rememberedhavingseenbeforeinthefootofanex-convict.’

12. •Note forgery section in criminal investigation department
During1917,aNoteForgerySectionwassetupundertheCID,GovernmentofBengal,toundertake
theexaminationofforgedcurrencynotes.TheRevenueDepartmentalsostarteditsownlaboratory
foridentificationofopiumandnarcotics,liquoranalysisandestimationofpuritylevelsofprecious
metalslikegold,silver,etc.Similarly,GovernmentMintandSecurityPrintingDepartmentsatNasik
alsoestablishedtheirownlaboratoriesfordetectingcasesofcounterfeitandforgedcurrencynotes.
•StateForensicScienceLaboratory,Calcutta
ThefirststateforensicsciencelaboratoryinIndiawasestablishedintheyear1952atCalcutta.Thislaboratory
becamefullyoperationalintheyear1953.TheMedicolegalSectionoftheChemicalExaminer'sLaboratorywas
alsotransferredtothislaboratory.Duringtheyear1955,asmallunitofPhysicswasestablishedintheWestBengal
StateForensicScienceLaboratorytodealwithvariousphysicalexaminationsofexhibitsencounteredincrime
investigation.Duringtheyear1957,thePhysicsunitdevelopedintoafullfledgedPhysicsSection.Inthesameyear,
theFootprintandtheNoteForgerySectionsofCriminalInvestigationDepartmentweretransferredtothislaboratory
andinthefollowingyearGeneralChemistrySectionoftheChemicalExaminer'sLaboratorywasalsotransferredto
thislaboratory.Thusthefirstmultidisciplinaryforensicsciencelaboratorycameintoexistenceinthecountry.

13. •Scientific Sections in the Criminal Investigation Department
During1936,aScientificSectionwassetupundertheCIDinBengalandfacilitieswerecreatedforexaminationof
bullets,cartridgecases,firearms,etc.,usedincommittingcrime.Fewotherstatesalsostartedscientificsections
intheirCID,whereinvestigationsonfingerprints,footprints,firearmsandquestioneddocumentswerealsocarried
out.Gradually,moreandmorebranchesofsciencewereembracedandthelaboratoriesgainedmaturityoverthe
years.
•CentralFingerPrintBureau
OntherecommendationsoftheRoyalPoliceCommissionof190203,thefirstCentralFingerPrintBureau(CFPB)
inIndiawasestablishedin1905atShimla.It,however,sufferedasetbackandwasabolishedin1922asaresultof
retrenchmentproposalsoftheInchapeCommittee.TheCFPBrestartedfunctioningfrom1955inDelhiunderthe
administrativecontrolofIntelligenceBureau(IB).ThemajorroleenvisagedforCFPBwastocoordinatethe
activitiesofStateFPBxintracing/locatinginterstatecriminals.DuringAugust1956,theCFPBwasshiftedto
CalcuttaandremainedundertheadministrativecontrolofIB.DuringSeptember1973,itwastransferredtothe
CentralBureauofInvestigationandduringJuly1986,theadministrativecontroloftheCFPBwastransferredtothe
NationalCrimeRecordsBureau(NCRB)andwasagainshiftedtoNewDelhi.
•CentralDetectiveTrainingSchoolatCalcutta
CDTS,Calcutta,apremierdetectivetrainingschoolinIndia,wasestablishedduring1956andwascolocated(inthe
samepremises)withtheCFPB,Calcutta.Theaimofestablishingsuchaschoolwastoimparttraininginscientific
investigationofcrimeslikedrugabuse,terrorism,explosion,crimeagainstwomen,investigationofroadaccidents
andenforcementoftrafficlaws,etc.

14. •CentralForensicScienceLaboratories
ThefirstCentralForensicScienceLaboratorywasestablishedatCalcuttaduring1957.Tobeginwith,this
laboratorywasorganisedintofourbasicdisciplinesviz.ForensicPhysics,ForensicChemistry,ForensicBiology
andForensicBallistics.Forapplicationofnuclearmethodsofanalysistocriminalinvestigation,theNeutron
ActivationAnalysisUnitofCFSL,Calcuttawassetupin1970attheBhabhaAtomicResearchCentre,Trombay.
Duringtheyear1965,thesecondcentralforensicsciencelaboratorywasestablishedatHyderabad,TheCFSL,
HyderabadinitiallyestablishedanalyticalfacilitiesinthedisciplinesofForensicPhysics,ForensicChemistryand
ForensicBiology.TheCentralForensicScienceLaboratory,Chandigarh,wasestablished,intheyear1933at
LahorewasshiftedtoChandigarhduring1961.Overtheyearsmanyfullfledgedforensicsciencelaboratories
wereestablishedinvariousstates.
•CentralForensicInstitute,Calcutta
WiththeestablishmentofCDTSandCFSL,(lateronGEQDalso)inthesamepremises,underthecontrolof
IntelligenceBureau,thewholesetupwasnamedastheCentralForensicInstitute(CFI),Calcutta.Apostof
Commandantwascreatedduring1958tolookaftertheoverallfunctioningofalltheseestablishments,which
haddifferentrolesbutwiththecommonlargergoalofprovidingappropriatescientificinputstothecriminal
investigationprocessandadministrationofcriminaljusticeinthecountry.
•CDTSatHyderabad&Chandigarh
TheCentralDetectiveTrainingSchool,Hyderabadwasestablishedin1964,onthepatternoftheCDTS,
Calcutta,followedbyanotheroneatChandigarh,during1973.Theirmainobjectivewastotraintheoperational
policepersonnelinmodernscientifictechniquesofcrimeinvestigation,withaviewtoimprovetheirprofessional
standardandefficiency.

15. •TheRoleofCentralAdvisoryCommittees
TheUnionGovernment,during1959,appointedtwocommitteesforthepurposeofgivingaleadtoalltheStates
inestablishingnewforensicsciencelaboratoriesandimprovingtheexistingones,andforimprovingthestudyand
applicationofForensicMedicine.Thesecommitteeswere(i)CentralForensicScienceAdvisoryCommitteeand
(ii)CentralMedicolegalAdvisoryCommittee.TheCentralMedicolegalAdvisoryCommitteewastoadvisethe
CentralandtheStateGovernmentsonmatterspertainingtomedicolegalproceduresandpractices.TheCentral
AdvisoryCommitteeonForensicScienceconsideredtheissuesrelatedtothesphereofForensicScience
(excludingforensicmedicine).TheCentralMedicolegalAdvisoryCommitteewasdiscontinuedwhereasthe
CentralForensicScienceAdvisoryCommitteewasconvertedintoStandingCommitteeonForensicScience
duringtheyear1972,whichisfunctionaleventodayinBPR&D.
•IndianAcademyofForensicScience
TheIndianAcademyofForensicSciences(IAFS)wasestablishedintheyear1960.Thisacademystarteda
biennialscientificjournal,whichservedasaforumfortheexchangeofideasinforensicsciencewiththeother
internationalbodies.TheroleoftheAcademywasalsotoholdannualscientificmeetings/seminarsorassistin
holdingseminarsinforensicscience.Infact,itwasattheinstanceofthisAcademythattheGovernmentofIndia
establishedtheNeutronActivationAnalysisUnittocaterfortheforensicneedsinthecountry.

16. •EstablishmentofDNATypingLaboratoryatCFSLCalcutta
Inresponsetotherisingdemandsofprovidinghightechnologytothecrimeinvestigationprocess,BPR&D
establishedthefirstForensicDNATypingfacilityatCFSL,Calcutta,during1998.Theimplementationofthisstateof
hearttechniquerepresentssignificantadvancementsintheforensicbiologyinthecountry.TheDNATypingUnitat
CFSLCalcuttaisequippedwiththemostcontemporarytechniquesofDNAtyping,namely,PolymerizeChain
Reaction(PCR)basedmethod,HLADQalphaandPolymarkertechnique,andLocusSpecificRestrictedFragment
LengthPolymorphismtechnique.Thislaboratory,afterbeingfunctional,hasbeenreferredmanycrimecases
pertainingtomurder,rape,rapeandmurder,paternitydisputes,organtransplant,exchangeofbabiesinhospitals
etc.DNATypingfacilityhasfurtherbeenupgradedtoconduct`ShortTandemRepeatsSequencebasedDNA
Typing.
•CreationofForensicScienceDivisionatBPR&D
OnaninvitationfromtheGovernmentofIndia,Dr.VKStreet,aneminentforensicscientistfromtheDepartmentof
ForensicMedicine,UniversityofEdinburgh,UK,visiteddifferentIndianforensicscienceinstitutionsduring1972
andsubmittedareporttotheMinistryofHomeAffairs,GovernmentofIndia.Hestronglyrecommendedforcreation
ofapostofChiefForensicScientistintheMinistryofHomeAffairstolookafteritsforensicscienceactivitiesandto
paywholetimeattentionforthedevelopmentofthisscienceinIndia.TheStandingCommitteeonForensic
Science,during1973,alsorecommendedforthecreationofapostofChiefForensicScientistsothattheactivities,
whichneededscientificinputsattheUnionGovernmentlevel,couldbeproperlycoordinated.ThepostofChief
ForensicScientistwasfinallysanctionedduring1983,andtheForensicScienceDirectoratewascreatedin
BPR&D.

17. •RecommendationsofScientificAdvisoryCommitteetotheCabinet
During1983,thethenScientificAdvisoryCommitteetotheCabinet(SACC)undertheoverallguidanceofanExpert
CommitteechairedbyProf.M.M.Sharma,FRS,recommendedthatthelaboratoriesinDelhi,CalcuttaandHyderabad
mustbedevelopedasS&Tinstitutions,functioninginanautonomousfashion,withcompletemodernizationof
equipmentandmanpowercapabilities.Inpursuanceoftheserecommendations,theGovernmentofIndiadeclaredthe
forensicscienceinstitutions,atthecentralGovernmentlevelasScienceandTechnologyinstitutions.Basedonthe
observationsoftheExpertGroupoftheSACC,BPR&DevolvedamasterplanforrestructuringeachCFSLofthe
BPR&Dintofifteenscientificdivisions.Inthefirstphase,thethreeCentralForensicScienceLaboratoriesatCalcutta,
Hyderabad,andChandigarhwererestructuredintosixscientificdivisionviz.Biology,Ballistics,Chemistry,Explosive,
Physics,andToxicology.Similarly,theofficesoftheGovernmentExaminersofQuestionedDocumentsatShimla,
Calcutta,andHyderabadwerestrengthenedintermsofmanpower.Besidesaugmentationofstaff,alltheBPR&D
laboratoriesregisteredsignificantprogressintheacquisitionofsophisticatedanalyticalequipmentand
updating/modernizingthelaboratoryandlibraryfacilitiesforsmoothworkingoftheseinstitutions.
•InstituteofCriminology&ForensicScienceatNewDelhi
AfteraseriesofdebatesattheGovernmentlevel,itwasdecidedthatinitiallytheInstituteofCriminologyandForensic
Scienceshouldbeestablishedonlyfortrainingtheinservicepersonnelandforconductingresearchinthefieldof
forensicscience.ItwasfeltthatunlesstheStategovernmentsandtheconsumerorganizationsagreedtoparticipatein
thescheme,itwouldnotbewisetostartcoursesforgrantingpostgraduatedegrees.However,theultimateobjectiveof
theInstitutewastodevelopintoafullfledgedacademicinstitutionaffiliatedtoauniversity.Withtheaboveaiminview,
theInstituteofCriminologyandForensicScience(ICFS)wasestablishedinDelhiduring1971withthelimited
objectivesofimpartingtrainingtotheinservicepersonnelandconductingresearchinCriminologyandForensic
Science.ItwasalsoenvisagedthattheInstituteshouldhavetwodistinctfacultiesviz.theFacultyofCriminologyand
theFacultyofForensicScienceandbothshouldhaveanumberofeminentteachersandresearcherswithadequate
backgroundandfieldexperience.

18. •Teaching of Forensic Science in the Universities
ThequestionofintroducingcriminologyandforensicscienceasthecoursesofstudyattheuniversitylevelinIndia
wastakenupwiththeViceChancellorsofvariousuniversitiesduring1950,buttheprogressmadeinthisdirection
wasnotencouraging.Theneedforuniversityteachingofcriminologyandforensicsciencewasalsostressedin
variousannualmeetingsoftheCentralAdvisoryCommitteeonForensicScience.AdeputationheadedbyShriKF
RustamjimettheChairman,UniversityGrantsCommissioninAugust1961andthematterwasagaintakenupby
ShriDPKohli,thethenDirector,CentralBureauofInvestigationin1967.Asaresultofthesediscussions,DrDS
Kothari,thethenChairman,UniversityGrantsCommissionsetupahighlevelcommitteetoadvisetheCommission
onthestepstobetakenforintroductionofCriminologyandForensicSciencesinuniversityeducation.It
recommendedthatuniversitiesshouldbeencouragedtointroducecoursesinCriminologyattheundergraduate
levelandpostgraduatecoursesinCriminologyandForensicScienceshouldbestartedonlyinacentral
autonomousinstitution,whichshouldbeaffiliatedtoauniversity.ConsequentlythreeUniversitiesviz.,Universityof
Sagar,MadrasandPatialastartedundergraduateandpostgraduatecoursesinforensicscience.Itwasfurther
suggestedthat,asaninitialstepinthisdirection,oneinstituteundertheCentralGovernmentshouldbeestablished
inDelhi.TheCommitteerecommendedthosetwocoursesviz.Master'sDegreeinCriminologyandMaster's
DegreeinForensicScienceshouldbeorganisedinthisInstitute,besidesDiplomacoursesforinservicepersonnel.
TheinstituteshouldalsobedevelopedasacenterforresearchinCriminologyandForensicScienceandshould
actasaclearinghouseofuptodateinformationinthesefields.

19. •ANewMandatetotheCFSLSOFBPR&D
Duringmid1990's,itwasrealisedthatmostoftheStateshaveestablishedtheirownforensicsciencelaboratories
andhencetheroleofCFSLstoprovideforensicanalyticalsupporttodifferentstateshasgotdiluted.Hencetheutility
ofthreeCFSLsatthenationallevelwasquestioned.
During1997,thisrealizationledtotheprocessofdefiningtheroleoftheCFSLsofBPR&D,denovo.Thejustification
fortheexistenceofthethreeCentralForensicScienceLaboratoriesundertheBPR&Dwasthoughttobetwofolds.
One,theyshouldactasepitomesofqualityandhighstandardsfortheStateLaboratoriestoemulate.Theyshouldnot
onlysetvisiblyhigherstandardsinqualityofanalyticalprocessesandreportingaccuracy,butalsoshouldbethe
repositoryofStandardsandbenchmarksagainstwhichtheperformanceofalltheStateFSLscanbejudged.BPR&D
should,therefore,haveadecisivesayintheprocessofaccreditation,notonlyofitsownCFSLs/GEsQD,butalsoof
alltheStateFSLs.Secondly,sinceforensicscienceisoneofthemostdynamicsciences,CFSLsshouldprovideR&D
supporttothisfieldofscience.Everynewresearch,developmentandinventioninanydisciplineofscienceshould
haveapotentialofapplicationinforensicscience.Newer,betterandmorereliabletechnologiesdevelopedinallthe
disciplinesneedtobeharnessedforthefightagainstcrime.TheBPR&DCFSLsshouldscoutaroundfornew
developmentsoutsidetherealmofforensicscienceandadaptthemforuseinMs,standardizetheprocessesand
disseminatethemtotheStateFSLs.Inordertoperformthisyeomenservice,theCFSLsneedtomaintainveryhigh
standardsandspecialization,waybeyondwhatispossibleintheStateFSLs.
StrategywasevolvedtobringaboutacompleteparadigmchangeinthestructureofthethreeBPR&DCFSLsand
providethemanewfocussedmandateofR&Dandspecializedtraining.Itemergedthatwhilepreservingtheir
compositestructure,thethreelaboratoriesshouldhavesubjectspecificexclusivenessandbedevelopedasthe
`CentersofExcellence'forresearchanddevelopmentandspecializedtraininginthedesignatedfields.Consequently,
during1998,thethreeCFSLswerereorganizedwithanaimtogeneratesynergyandfocusattentiononresearchand
developmentactivitiesinthethrustareasofforensicscience

20. ThiswaspossibleonlyifalltheavailableresourcesarepooledinthedesignatedCentersofExcellence,rather
thanspreadthemverythinonthewholeground.BesidesfocussingontheircoreactivityofR&Dand
specializedtraininginthedesignatedfieldofforensicscience,theselaboratoriesalsoundertakecrimecase
examinationinallthefieldsofforensicscience.However,theroutineforensicanalysiscaseworkhasnow
beenrestrictedtothosereceivedfromtheCentralGovernmentorganizationsandStateGovernments/Union
Territories,whichhavenotyetestablishedtheirownforensicsciencefacilities.Theselaboratoriesalsoactas
thereferralcentersforhandlingforensicanalysisofcrimecasesrequiringextensiveinvestigationandhigh
expertise,receivedfromthecourtsoflaw,stateandcentralforensicscienceinstitutionsandothercrime
investigatingagenciesinIndia.Thedesignatedfieldswerechosenasfollows:
oCFSL, Calcutta Forensic Biological Sciences
oCFSL, Hyderabad Forensic Chemical Sciences
oCFSL, Chandigarh Forensic Physical Sciences
oThe Neutron Activation Analysis Unit of CFSL, Calcutta, operating at the BARC, Mumbai, was brought
under the administrative control of CFSL, Hyderabad.
•ANewMandatetotheCFSLSOFBPR&D

21. Services & FUNCTIONS provide by FSL
Toprovidedependableandtimelyforensicscienceserviceswithaccessibilityand
affordabilitytoallthoseseekingTruthandJustice.
ToformulateaproperEvidencemanagement system(Identification,recovering,
preserving,processingandsubmittingconclusiveevidenceincourtsoflaw).
ToearnaccreditationandtomaintainInternationalForensicStandards.
Toprovideanambientenvironmenttocatersophisticationswithcomplete
spectrumofup-to-dateprofessionalforensiclaboratoryservicesandmentoring
variouslabswhichwillbeworkingindependently.
AnalysisandexaminationofexhibitsofDocuments,ComputerHardware,Mobiles,
blood,semen,saliva,hairs,bones,DNA,etc.,viscera,drugs,alcohol,petroleum
products,firearms,bullets,buildingmaterial,roadaccidents,deciphermentand
restorationofalterednumbersofstolenvehicles,soilanalysis,Audio,Videotapes,
Speakeridentificationetc.polygraphexaminationofsuspectsetcreferredby
DelhiPoliceandHon’blecourtofLawforexpertopinion.

22. Services & FUNCTIONS provide by FSL
Attendingthesceneofcrime.
Attendingcourtsoflawfortenderingexperttestimony.
ResearchandDevelopmentworkonallaspectoftheforensicscience
.
Teachingandtrainingfunctionscoveringallaspectsofforensic
scienceinrespectofworkingforensicscientist,Policeofficers,
Medicolegal,Administrativeofficers,researchscholars/studentsof
forensicsciencefromvariousuniversities.
Assistandco-operatewithstateforensicscienceLaboratories,state
forensic universitiesandinstitutesinvarioustechnical
andorganizationalmatters.
ProvidingTechnicaladviseandopiniontoHon’bleCourtsofLawon
mattersrelatedto forensicscienceanditsapplicationin
criminalinvestigation.

23. Analysis
Toxicology
& Drugs
Questioned
Documents
Bio-DNA
Latent Prints
Firearms &
tool marks
Evidence
Storage
Choice Of Choice
Evidence in Tape
Lab Info System

24. Various divisions of
fsl
1.Ballistics Division
2.Biology Division
3.Chemistry Division
4.Document Division
5.Physics Division
6.Psychology Division
7.Serology Division
8.Toxicology Division
9.Narcotics Division
10.DNA Division

25. Ballistics Division
Examinationoffirearmstoascertaintheircaliber,make,model,whetherinworking
conditionorotherwise,statusofrecentfiring.
ToascertainnatureandtypesoffirearmspartsandwhethertheyfallunderarmsAct?
Toestablishcaliber,makecartridgeandwhethertheyareliveornot.
Toascertainmake,caliberandtypesofcartridgecases,bulletsetcandtoestablish
theirpossiblelinktothefirearmusedincrime.
Toascertainmake,sizeofpelletsandwads,toestablishtheshotsize,number,natureof
firearmsthroughwhichtheyweredischargedandrangeoffire.

26. Biology Division
Origin,individualizationandcomparativeanalysisormatchingofhairand
fibres.
Diatomexaminationtoconfirmwhetherdeathisduetoantemortemdrowning
orotherwiseandalsothesightofdrowning.
Determinationoforigin,speciesandcomparisonwiththecontrolorstandard
samplesofplantmaterialsuchaswood,leaves,seeds,fruits,flowers,pollen,
etc.
Ascertainthetimesincedeathandplaceofdeathbyexamininginsects,flies
andmaggots,etc.foundonthedeadbody.
Skull-superimpositiontoascertainwhethertheskullofanunknownperson
belongstothepersoninthephotographorotherwise.
Determinationoftheorigin,sex,ageandstatureoftheunknownpersonbythe
examinationofskeletal,tissueorskinremains.
Findouthumanoranimaloriginofbones,tissueandskins.

27. Chemistry Division
•EXPLOSIVESSUBSTANCESANDTHEIRRESIDUES:Theirtype,composition,effectiveness,quantitative
andqualitativeanalysis.
•ARSONANDFIRE:Thenatureandcompositionoffireacceleratorsandinflammablesubstances.
•PETROLEUMPRODUCTS:Todeterminewhetherpetrol,diesel,keroseneandothermotoroilshave
beenadulteratedornot.Ifso,thentoknowthenatureandpercentageofadulterants.
•UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES:QualitativeandQuantitativeanalysisofunknownsolid,liquidorother
substances.
•Toconfirmthespecificationofbrand,trademarkofspuriousorsubstanceslikecosmetics,soap,
talcumpowder,shampooorcream.
•METAL:Metalliccompositionandpercentageofmetallicarticlessuchasornaments,jewellery,
etc.
•CEMENT:Compositionandpercentageofvariouscomponentsofcementanditsstrength.
•ACIDSANDALKALIES:Quantitativeexaminationandtoconfirmwhetheranacidwasusedforskin
burn.

28. Document Division
•Examinationofhandwritingintheformofrunningmatter,signature,initialsand
numeralstoascertaintheauthorship.
•Examinationoferasures,obliterations,alterations,over-writing,secretwritingto
knowanykindoftemperingofdocumentsandalsotodeciphertheoriginal
writings.
•Identificationofthetypewriter,printingmachinesandphotocopyingmachines
byexaminingtypewriting,printedandphotocopiedmatters.
•Examinationofinkandpapertoascertaintheirnatureandtoestablishanykind
totemperingofdocumentsiftookplace.
•Examiningofphotostat,faxandcarboncopiestoestablishtheoriginalwriting.

29. Physics Division
•Studyofglassfracturetoknowtheorigin,thedirectionandcausationfactor.
•Nature,compositionofglasspiecesandfragments,paintflakes,chipsand
smearsandtheirmatchingwithcontrolsample.
•Identificationandmatchingoffootprintsshoeprints,tool-marks,tyre-marks,etc.
•Toestablishwhethersuspectedcurrencynotesaregenuineorcounterfeit.
•Todecipheroriginalnumberiftemperingisdonetoerasednumbersonvehicles
andfirearms.
•Toestablishwhetherthespuriousarticleisaninfringementoftrademark.
•Speakeridentificationwithvoiceanalysistolinksuspecttothecrime.

30. Psychology Division
Forensicpsychologyistheintersectionbetweenpsychologyand
thejusticesystem
Toprovidetheabilitytotestifyincourtasanexpertwitness,
reformulatingpsychologicalfindingsintothelegallanguageof
thecourtroom,providinginformationtolegalpersonneinaway
thatcanbeunderstood.
PsychologicalAutopsy:Aforensicpsychologicalautopsyis
postmortemmentalstateevaluationofthedeceasedand
involvesadataevaluationofthesubject'smentalhealthrecords.
TounderstandtheStateofMind

31. Serology Division
•Examinationofblood,semen,salivaandotherbodyfluidsto
ascertainwhethertheyareofhumanoranimalorigin.
•Todeterminethebloodgroupandenzymiccharacteristics.

32. ToxicologyDivision
•Chemicalanalysisofthevisceraandbodyfluidstodeterminethe
nature,composition,quantitativeandqualitativeestimationof
poisonoussubstancepresent.
•Toknowthenature,compositionandquantitativeestimationof
poisonspresentinfood,syringes,tablets,powderandliquors.
•Analysisofsuspectedpoisonoussubstancesandplantmaterials.
•Toascertainwhetherbones,ash,skin,vomit,exhumedremnants
containanypoisonoussubstanceandtheirnature.
•Examinationofpesticides,insecticides,carbonicacids,alkaloids,
corrosiveacids,alkalies,snakeandscorpiopoisons.

33. DNA Division
Individualizationandidentificationofthepersonbeyondanydoubt
tofixthepaternityofachildwiththeexaminationofliquidblood,
bloodstains,semen,seminalstains,tissues,bones,hair,teeth,saliva,
andskeletonremains.
IndividualizationandidentificationofanimalsthroughDNA
examinationofblood,tissues,skin,bones,teeth,etc.
Toascertainidentityandindividualizationofthesourceandoriginof
plantsamplessuchastobacco,chillipowder,wood,leaves,seeds,
pollen,etc.