Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

INDEX

Sr. Title Page

No. No.
1 Introduction 3

2 Meaning and definition 4

Of Forensic Science
3 Nature 7

4 Scope 11

5 History 14

6 Development 18

7 Conclusion 22

8 Bibliography 23

9 Webliography 24

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank our Forensic Science Teacher, Mrs. Rajni Verma, for being a
wonderful teacher, guide and philosopher.

We would also like to thank our families and friends for being a constant support and
encouraging us throughout the completion of this project.

Material and illustrations used herein have been collected from the classroom and on
the field throughout the year. We would like to acknowledge the same.

Thank you!

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

INTRODUCTION
Crime in some form or the other has existed since the beginning of human race. With
advancement in science and technology, the concept of crime as well as the methods
adopted by criminals in its commission, have undergone a phenomenal change. On
one hand, the intelligent criminal has been quick to exploit science for his criminal
acts. On the other hand, the police investigator is no longer able to rely on his age-old
art of interrogation, development of sources and surveillance. The barbaric and
torturous methods of detecting crime have also no place in a civilized society. In these
circumstances, what can the police investigator turn to except the developing science?
It is in this context, forensic science has found its existence. Its development has
provided a powerful tool in the hands of the law enforcement agencies and the
judiciary.

Even though medical jurisprudence, forensic medicine and legal medicine are terms
commonly used to denote the branch of medicine which deals with the application of
principles and knowledge of medicine for the purpose of law, both civil and criminal,
they bear different meanings. Medical jurisprudence embraces all questions which
affect the civil or social rights of individuals as well as cases of injuries to persons and
brings the medical practitioner in contact with law. Thus, medical jurisprudence deals
with the legal aspect of medical practice, while forensic medicine deals with the
application of medical knowledge to the administration of law. Toxicology deals with
the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of poisons and the methods of detecting them.
Forensic science is an all-comprehensive term. In its broadest definition, forensic
science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced
by police agencies and courts.

MEANING OF FORENSIC SCIENCE:

Forensic science and law are interrelated. One is complimentary to the other as both
cannot survive without one another. Forensic science is associated with the application
of science to unearth the well designed conspiracies not only in the traditional offences
of rape, robbery, dacoity, murder but also in white collar crimes like money
laundering, corruption, scams, human trafficking, etc. It is also helpful in investigation
and detection of computer crimes, computer frauds etc.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

The word forensic is derived from a Latin term ‘forensis’ which means something
pertaining to forum, related to courts of law, discussions, and debates in public related
to laws. In Rome, forum was the meeting place where civic and legal matters used to
be discussed by those with public responsibility.

Forensic means two things:

1) To bring evidence before the forum or court of law, in classical times.

2) Scientific evidence in the form of comparisons and scientific findings applied to
the law, in modern times.1

It is presumed that forensic science is the only branch of science which takes all
branches of science to common man and helps the criminal justice system which in
turn tries to provide a crime free society for common man to live in. Forensic science
uses the Basic principles of all physical and natural sciences and has evolved many
domains of its own which include Anthropometry, Fingerprints, Ballistics, Hand
writing, Computer, DNA, Brain Mapping, Narco-Analysis, Polygraphy etc.2 The basic
sciences are associated with forensic science in the name of forensic as Forensic
Biology and Serology, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Physics, Toxicology,
Odontology, Forensic Psychology, Forensic DNA, Forensic Engineering and Cyber
Forensics. These branches provide a full proof scientific aid to criminal justice system.

Therefore, for achieving the objectives of justice delivery system it is essential to

know the intentions and the purposes or objects of the wrong doer. In order to solve
any case it is essential to create a chain of events it is essential to link the crime with
the criminal , the criminal with the victim, the victim with the scene of crime, the
criminal with the scene of the crime and the forensic techniques provides all these
links so that justice can be delivered. It is only with the scientific techniques that it is
possible to determine with certainty that it is only him and no one else who is involved
in the commission of the crime or he is an innocent person not to be charged.3

DEFINITIONS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE:

1
Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and toxicology, K.Mathiharan and Amrit K. Patnaik, LexisNexis, Buttersworth, 2010,
p.05.

2
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/forensic_science, 10 oct 2018, 10:00 am.

3
Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (law practice and procedure), KS Narayan Reddy, ALT Publications, 2006, pg.09.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

1) According to Encarta World Dictionary, Forensic Science is crime solving

related to the application of science to decide questions arising from crime or
litigation.
2) According to Concise Oxford Dictionary, Forensic Science used in court of
law.
3) According to Modern English Dictionary, Forensic Science means pertaining
to law courts.
4) According to Dictionary of English Language, Forensic Science means
belonging to use in or suitable courts of judicature.
5) According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, Forensic Science
related to or used in course of law.
6) According to Alfred Swaine Taylor, Forensic Medicine is defined to be that
science which teaches the application of every branch of medical knowledge to
the purposes of the law hence its limits are on the hand the requirements of the
law and on the other hand the whole range of medicine.
7) According to Black’s Law Dictionary, Forensic Science means belonging to
courts of justice.
8) The Law of Evidence defined many areas of Forensic Science as technical or
other specialized knowledge which are being analysed or and evaluated by
courts under different standards of reliability.

So, Forensic Science is the science by means of which material evidence is analysed,
collected, preserved and used in court of law especially in relation to crime. So, when
a crime is committed, Forensic Science has many things to do, which are known to
common people even today. 4

The broadest definition of the Forensic Science is the application of science of law.
Forensic Science offers the knowledge and technology of science for the enforcement
of laws that are framed in our society to regulate the activities of its members.
Forensic Science does occupy an important and unique role in the administration of
criminal justice system, a role that relates to the scientific ability to supply accurate
and objective information that reflects the events that had occurred at a crime.
Forensic Science has become of utmost importance in the detection of crime.

APPLICATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE:

Modern Forensic Science has a broad range of applications:

4
https://www.jpjmoonline.com

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

1) It is used in civil cases such as forgeries, fraud or negligence

2) It is used in criminal cases like murder, rape etc.
3) It helps law enforcement officials to determine whether any law and regulation
have been violated in marketing of food and drinks, manufacturing of medicines
or use of pesticides on crops.
4) It also determines whether automobile emissions are within a permissible level
and whether drinking water meets purity requirements.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

NATURE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

Forensic science is not an exact science because unexpected results are produced due
to biological variations. In other words, there is an element of uncertainity and
absolute proof is a rarity in any medical problem.

In PRATAP MISHRA V. STATE OF ORISSA 5 the apex court held that medical
jurisprudence cannot be called an exact science because the exact time of incidence
cannot be calculated from medical evidence. No doctor can say with precision and
exactitude as to the time of causing a particular injury or exact time when rape was
done by the accused with the victim.

In PATTIPATI VENKAIAH V. STATE OF A.P.6 it was held that medical science is

not yet so perfect so as to determine the exact time of death, nor can the same be
determined in a computerized or mathematical fashion to the accurate last second.

Forensic science embraces all branches of forensic science and applies to the purposes
of law. Originally, all the techniques were borrowed from various scientific disciplines
like chemistry, biology, physics, medicine, surgery, photography and mathematics.
But in the past few years it has developed its own branches which are, more or less,
exclusive domains of forensic science.

The science of finger-printing, anthropometry, track marks, handwriting detection and

forensic ballistics essentially belongs to forensic science alone. More recently
significant advances have been made in serology, voice analysis, odour analysis and in
studies relating to pattern recognition through computers. The most significant
development of the 20th century, however, had been the DNA profiling for
identification of human beings.

Two peculiar features of forensic science are:

 It is multi-professional
 It is multi-disciplinary

Multi-professional nature:

5
AIR 1977 SC 1307
6
AIR 1985 SC 1715

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

The forensic scientist has to depend upon, for the proper functioning of the forensic
science, on the investigation officer on one hand and on the presenting counsel and
Judge on the other hand for its effective utilization in the dissemination of justice. If
the investigating officer does not know how to collect the correct clues, how to pack
them, and keep intact the integrity and identity of the clue material, then the best of
expertise and best of instrumentation with the scientist would not help. The
investigation officer has to be a specialist in handling the correct clues correctly.
Likewise the counsel and the judge have to know the science broadly so that they can
co-relate the scientific evidence with the rest of the oral evidence, circumstantial
evidence and evidence of the other specialists. 7 Public, too, has to know the
importance of science and of clue materials so that they do not disturb, destroy or
contaminate the clues at the crime scene or elsewhere.

Multi-disciplinary nature:

The second peculiarity of forensic science is an all inclusive science. Over the years,
forensic science has developed its own branches. Consequently, a comprehensive
forensic science laboratory has to have experts in all disciplines, equipment for all
branches, a comprehensive library and the required utilities. It is too costly to be
attempted, so the forensic science laboratories are located at such places where other
scientific institutions like colleges, universities, medical institutes, institutes of
technology or other institutes of higher learning, research and development are
available.

ROLE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE:

Forensic science has a paramount role in the detection of crime. Wherever a crime is
committed, the suspect inadvertently leaves on the crime spot some clues which are
helpful in bringing a criminal charge against him. If some clues are wasted or
damaged, the suspect shall not be caught under the clutches of law. So, immediately
after the commission of crime, paramount care is to be taken by the police so that
these clues may not be destroyed by anyone else. In many situations, the suspect
destroys these clues to protect himself from the criminal charge. So, all proofs, clues,
materials which are directly or indirectly connected with the accused should be
preserved cautiously so that they are not destroyed or damaged in any way. Thus,

7
Textbook of Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, K. Kannan and K. Mathiharan, Buttersworth, India, 2012,
pg. 13.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

basic knowledge of preservation of clue materials and information to the police may
be regarded as a basic necessity.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

After tracing the origin, growth and development of forensic science, the other
important aspects which are to be examined are the different techniques of forensic
science i.e. the means and methods which are used in the identification of criminals
and other related objects.
Some of these methods are:-
 Criminalistics
 Anthropometry
 Finger Printing
 Forensic Science and Forensic Ballistics
 DNA testing
 Pathology
 Questioned documents examination

These means and methods are discussed in detailed as below:-

1) Criminalistics: this branch of science is concerned with the recognition,
identification and evaluation of physical evidence using the methods and
techniques of the natural sciences in issues of legal significance. It includes
examination of trace evidence like glass, soil etc.

2) Anthropometry: Since the beginning of criminal investigation, police have

sought an infallible means of human identification. The first systematic
attempt was devised and introduced by Alphonse Bertillon in 1883. The
Bertillon system relied on a detailed description of the subject combined with
full length and profile photographs and system of precise body
measurements known as Anthropometry. This method rested on the idea that
skeleton sizes were thought to be so extremely diverse that no two persons
could have exact the same measurements. These included height, reach and
width of the head and the length of the left foot.8

3) Finger Printing: A Finger print in its narrow sense is an impression left by the
friction ridges of a human finger. In 1665, the Italian physician
Marcello Malpighi briefly mentioned the existence of patterns of ridges and
sweat glands on fingertips .In 1684, the English physician, botanist and
microscopist, Nigerian Grew published the first scientific paper to describe the
ridges structure of the fingers. Also in 1880, Dr. Henry Faulds published an
article in the scientific journal.

8
https://science.howstuffworks.com/forensic_science, 10 oct 2018, 11:00 am.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

In HP ADMINISTRATION V. OM PRAKASH, the Supreme Court observed

that the science of identifying thumb impressions as an exact science and
doesn’t admit to any doubt or mistake.

4) Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Ballistic: Forensic Toxicology is the branch

of science related to the study of poisons and Ballistics is associated with the
study of Firearms and ammunition .A method of detecting arsenic oxide,
simple arsenic corpses was devised in 1773 by the Swedish chemist, Carl
Wilhelm Scheele .His work was expanded by German chemist Valenti Rose,
who learned to detect the poison in the wall of human stomach. A poison may
be organic, inorganic or may be have a biological origin. James Marsh was the
first to apply this new science to the art of forensic. He was called by the
prosecution in the murder trail to give evidence as a chemist in 1832.while he
was able to detect arsenic as Yellow arsenic disulfide, when it was shown to the
jury it had deteriorated, allowing the suspect to be acquitted due to reasonable
doubt.

5) DNA Testing: Alec Jeffrey invented the DNA profiling technique in 1984. Later
on in the 20th century several British pathologists, Milkey Ranchman, Francis
Camps, Sydney Smith and Keith Simpson pioneered new forensic methods.
This method has since become important in forensic science to assist police
Detective work, and it has also proved useful in resolving paternity
and immigration disputes9. A friend of Collin pitchfork was heard saying that he
had given his sample to police claiming to be Colin. He was arrested in 1987
and it was found that his DNA profile matched the semen samples from the
murder.

6) Pathology: In 16th century Europe, medical practitioners in army and

University Settee began to gather information on the cause and manner of death.
Ambrose pare, a French army surgeon, systematically studied the effects of
violent death on internal organs. Two Italian surgeons, Fortunate Fidelis and
Paolo Zacchia, laid the foundation of modern pathology by studying Changes
that occurred in the structure of the body as a result of the disease. In Warwick
1816, a farm laborer was tried and convicted of murder of a Young
maidservant. She had been drowned in a shallow pool and bore the marks of
violent assault. The police found footprints and an impression from corduroy
cloth with a seen patch in the damp earth near the pool. There were also
scattered grains of wheat and chaff. The breeches of a Farm labourer who had
been threshing wheat nearby were examined and Corresponded exactly to the
impression in the earth near the pool.

9
Medical Jurisprudence, RM Jhalla and K Raju, Eastern Book Company, 1997, pg.20.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

7) Questioned documents examination: this branch deals with the comparisons and
interpretation of handwriting, signatures etc. Analysis of paper ink and other
materials used to produce documents may also be analyzed.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

1. In the middle of the 19th century natural sciences began to develop rapidly.
Justice, which for centuries was in search of objective and impartial
evidence, as against the conventional oral testimony of unwilling, hostile and
unobservant witnesses, turned to science for assistance
2. At the same time sir Arthur Conon Doyle popularised scientific crime
method through his fictional character Sherlock Holmes
3. This certainly helped to publicize among the scientists as well as the criminal
investigators the idea that the science could aid in the detection and
investigation of crime.
4. Most of the pioneering work in the field of forensic science originated from
the continent of Europe
5. There are many who can cited for their specific contribution among in
building of foundation of forensic science using methods of natural and
related sciences

BRIEF HISTORY OF CHINA

Forensic Medicine in China has a long history which can be traced back to the China
era in the third century BC. Documents entitled Feng Chen Shin (Models for Sealing
and Investigating) written on bamboo strips discovered from a China tomb revealed a
detailed description of death investigation which was reported as “Death by Robbery
with Violence” and “Death by Hanging.”
The first stage of development of modern forensic medicine took place during the
1950s. With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the Ministry of
Health promulgated the first edition of “National Guidelines of Autopsy Performance”
in 1950, which was modified in 1957. The principal objective of these guidelines was
to provide a constructive framework that divided autopsies into three categories:
general autopsy, hospital autopsy, and forensic autopsy. It was stated in the guidelines
that forensic autopsy could only be performed by forensic medical experts in the
police force, courts, prosecutors’ offices, the forensic medical institutes of medical
colleges, and certain hospitals under the commission of the courts, prosecutors’
offices, or police force. In 1951, the Nanjing Central University Medical College (now
Nanjing University Medical College) commissioned by the Ministry of Health hosted
a first training class in forensic medicine for medical school teachers. From 1952 to
1956, the Institute of Forensic Medicine (now the Institute of Forensic Sciences) under
the Ministry of Justice trained more than 200 medical students for work in forensic
medicine and most of them became forensic pathologists. Until the early 1970s, many

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

medical schools had established either a department of forensic medicine or a division

of forensic medicine within the department of pathology to give lectures on forensic
medicine to medical school students. Forensic medicine became a part of medical
school curriculum.

WORLD HISTORY
Mathieu Orfila: He is the father of modern toxicology. In the early part of 19 th
century he established, in Paris, methods for scientific chemical analysis of poisons,
which are in use even today.
Alphonse Bertillon: He was from France and first to evolve a scientific system of
personal identification. In 1879 he developed the science of anthropometry of
systematic procedure of taking a series of body method, through largely replaced by
fingerprint system and is still in use in certain parts of the world.10 No other individual
can claim to have contributed more substantially to the field of personal identification
than Alphonse Bertillon.
With investigation of photography, he was the first to find its use in criminal
investigation. In the1881 he began to take standard pictures of all French criminals
and file them in the bureau of identification in Paris. He further systematized the
technique of ‘Portrait Parle’ method of identifying culprits from description provided
by victims and witnesses. He is known as father of criminal identification system.
Francis Galton: A scientist from U.K., undertook the first systematic study of
fingerprints. He developed a methodology of classifying the fingerprints for filing
purposes. In the 1892 he published a book on fingerprint giving statistical proof of
uniqueness of personal identification through fingerprint.
Hans Gross: of Austria, a lawyer by profession, spent many years studying and
developing the principles of criminal investigation. The resulted in the publication of
his classic book 1893.
Edmond Locard: Frenchman, later demonstrate how the principles put forward by
Gross, in his monumental book, could be incorporate within a workable crime
laboratory. In the 1910 he established a police laboratory in Lynos and later founded
the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lynos. He propounded the principle
of exchange which forms the basis of forensic examination of physical evidence
Karl Landsteiner: In 1901 he discovered that blood could be grouped in to different
categories. In the 1951 Dr. Leone Lattes of Italy devised relatively simple procedure
for determining the blood group of dried bloodstains and immediately adopted this
technique for criminal investigation

10
https://www.rcboe.org/lib/domain.com, 10 oct 2018, 11:20 am.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

Calvin Goddard: A US army Colonel, perfected the science of ballistics. He

developed a comparison microscope for comparison of crime and test fired bullets to
determine whether or not particular weapon was used in the offence

Albert Osborn: He developed fundamental principles of document examination, which

gave acceptance to document as scientific evidence by courts. In the 1901 he wrote a
classic book titled ‘questioned documents” which primary reference book for
document experts.

During post World War 1 period, Locarrd’s success in the application of scientific
method in the criminal investigation serves as an impetus for the formation of police
laboratories in Berlin, Vienna, Sweden, Finland and Holland. Today it is world largest
forensic science laboratory UK followed USA by established metropolitan forensic
science laboratory at Scotland in 1935.

After Second World War there was sudden spurt in crime rate due to large scale
availability of firearm. Further, due to ease of mobility and communication organized
crime and white-collar proliferated. Western countries had to mobilize scientific aids
to combat the growing menace of both violent and organized crime.

INDIAN HISTORY

In India, the development of scientific institutions aiding crime detection came close
on the heels of it in the western countries. In the beginning there existed chemical
examiner’s labs, which were set up by the British rules at Madras, Calcutta, Agra and
Bombay in the second half of the 19th century. Theses laboratories undertook general
chemical analysis and toxicological work. The first fingerprint bureau of the world
was established in 1897 at Calcutta. Consequent to the 1902 police commission report,
recommending creation of CID units at the state level by the 1910 most of the state
established Fingerprint Bureau. Following this development the government of India
established government examiner of questioned Document at Shimla in 1906, and
serologist and chemical examiner to the government of India at Calcutta in 1910.
Besides this, scientific sections were created under the state CID’s to carry out limited
and rudimentary scientific examinations of firearms, footprints, photography etc. these
facilities were far from satisfactory and created very little impact on criminal justice
administration.11

11
Analytical Toxicology, SN Tiwari, Govt of India Publications, New Delhi, 1987, pg.27.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

After independence, there was great awareness of the need of modernize crime
investigation methods and criminal justice in our country. Establishing the first state
forensic science laboratory at Calcutta, on 1952, by emerging it with the already
existing government chemical examiner’s laboratory, made the beginning setting up of
a central finger print bureau in1955 and central forensic science laboratory in 1957,
both in Calcutta, followed this. These units functioned under central forensic institutes
set up by the intelligence bureau. It also had under its control central finger print
bureau and central forensic institute was transferred to the newly established bureau of
police research & development. This was the starting point for other states to establish
organized laboratories in the state capitals.

A central advisory committee of forensic science was formed under the M.H.A. in the
year 1959. In pursuance of the recommendation of this committee, organized state
forensic science laboratories was established in Bombay, Madras, Punjab, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc. the central advisory committee on Forensic science
was revitalized in 1972 to serve as an apex body to advise the government on the
development of forensic science in the country. 12 Today it is the bureau of police
research and development, which is acting as a nodal agency of the government of
India and coordinating the development of forensic science in the country.

At present there are eighteen state forensic science laboratories. These laboratories
have been found inadequate to render prompt and efficient service. This prompted
many states to extend the facilities to regions by setting up regional forensic science
laboratories. Some states have extended these facilities to the district level and in
metropolitan towns by setting up mobile laboratories. Thus it can be seen that there
has been a constant endeavor, since the last few decades, to expand the existing
forensic institutions to serve and strengthen the administration of criminal justice.

In 16th-century Europe, medical practitioners in army and university settings began to

gather information on the cause and manner of death. Ambroise Paré, a French
army surgeon, systematically studied the effects of violent death on internal
organs. Two Italian surgeons, Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia, laid the foundation
of modern pathology by studying changes that occurred in the structure of the body as
the result of disease. In the late 18th century, writings on these topics began to appear.
These included A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public Health by the French
physician Francois Immanuele Fodéré and The Complete System of Police Medicine
by the German medical expert Johann Peter Frank.

12
www.academia.edu.development_of_forensic _science.com, 11 oct 2018, 11:30 am.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

As the rational values of the Enlightenment era increasingly permeated society in the
18th century, criminal investigation became a more evidence-based, rational procedure
− the use of torture to force confessions was curtailed, and belief in witchcraft and
other powers of the occult largely ceased to influence the court's decisions. Two
examples of English forensic science in individual legal proceedings demonstrate the
increasing use of logic and procedure in criminal investigations at the time. In 1784,
in Lancaster, John Toms was tried and convicted for murdering Edward Culshaw with
a pistol. When the dead body of Culshaw was examined, a pistol wad (crushed paper
used to secure powder and balls in the muzzle) found in his head wound matched
perfectly with a torn newspaper found in Tom's pocket, leading to the conviction.
In Warwick 1816, a farm laborer was tried and convicted of the murder of a young
maidservant. She had been drowned in a shallow pool and bore the marks of violent
assault13. The police found footprints and an impression from corduroy cloth with a
sewn patch in the damp earth near the pool. There were also scattered grains
of wheat and chaff. The breeches of a farm laborer who had been threshing wheat
nearby were examined and corresponded exactly to the impression in the earth near
the pool.
As rooted into our criminal justice system as forensic science would seem, the fact is
that it is a relatively recent addition, even considering the young history of modern
criminology. The application of science and technology to the detection and
investigation of crime and administration of justice is not new to India.
The first chemical Examiner’s laboratory was, so, established for this determination
at the then Madras Presidency, under the department of Health ,during 1849. In
future, alike laboratories were established at Calcutta (1853), trailed by one each at
Agra (1864), Bombay (1870). These laboratories do analysis of Viscera, chemical
analysis of food, drugs, biological analysis of blood and semen stains, etc. and various
materials.
The department of explosives was established at Nagpur in 1898, later on 5 local
workplaces at Calcutta, Bombay, Agra and Gwalior, besides with 3 sub- offices at
Shivkashi, Gomia and Asansol were opened for examining clue materials with
reference to the explosives as well as the possible causes of explosions.
The British Government of Bengal created the post of Government Handwriting
Expert of Bengal and Mr. S.N. Sen, first Indian took over this post in 1949. Earlier,
the work of this office was mainly narrowed to the Identification of writings present
on secret documents. Services were thrown open to criminal as well as civil court
cases. Laboratories(GEQD) were set up at Calcutta and Hyderabad also.

13
Medical Jurisprudence, R.M. Jhala and K Raju, Eastern Book Company, 1997,pg 29.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

Realizing the importance of Forensic serology in examining the human blood and
semen and its stain identification in criminal investigations, an organization known as
Serology Department’ was recognized in Calcutta in 1910.

During the year 1915, a footprint Unit was recognized below the CID, Government of
Bengal, which helped the police authorities to identify criminals though the
examination of footprints collected from the scene of crime

A Section for detecting forgery in currency notes was recognized under the CID.
Government of Bengal in 1917 to undertake the examination of forged currency notes.

The first state forensic science research laboratory in India was recognized in the year
in 1952 at Calcutta. Small units of physics was established with various physical
examination of exhibits encountered in crime investigation. The Note forgery
Divisions of Criminal investigation and Chemistry Division of the chemical
Examiner’s laboratory was shifted to this laboratory. Hence, the first multidisciplinary
forensic science laboratory came into existence in the country.

CDTS, Calcutta, a premier detective training school in India, was established during
1956 and was co- located(in the same premises) with the CFPB, Calcutta.

The first Central Forensic Laboratory was established at Calcutta during 1957. During
the year 1965, the second central forensic science laboratory was established at
Hyderabad. The Central Forensic Science laboratory, Chandigarh , was established, in
the year 1933 at Lahore was shifted to Chandigarh during 1961.

The Central detective Training School, Hydrabad was established in 1964. One is at
Chandigarh for the period of 1973. Their chief objective was to train the effective
police personnel in up-to-date scientific techniques of crime investigations, with an
opinion to expand their professional standard and efficiency.

NEW TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY

Forensic Science is the key to solving crimes all over the world. Without it, we would
be stuck in the days of Sherlock Holmes, relying on less reliable evidence to reach
conclusions about life and death situations.
With advances in forensic technology, law enforcement has more tools and resources
at its disposal, making it harder for criminals to get away with their actions. As a
result, the demand for forensics technology has only increased over time.
Along with that, public interest in forensics has also increased, especially with the
popularity of crime based television shows. Series and movies such as Hannibal,

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

Making a Murderer, CSI, and the perennial favorite Law and Order, do a great deal to
expand interest in forensics, but they don't always accurately represent the science.
Regardless of the perceptions about what is and is not possible on the big screen, there
have been some pretty mind-blowing forensics technology advances in recent years.
These tech advances are helping law enforcement to solve crime and close the books
on cold cases across the nation.
Here are 5 new forensics tools and technologies:

Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS)

This may be the "most advanced tool in the field of Forensic Biology," according to
Sheree Hughes-Stamm, who will investigate this research at Sam Houston University.
Basically, MPS gives more information about DNA evidence than ever before, which
will be critical in helping to solve missing person cases, or situations where there has
been a large disaster with many deaths.

Hair Bacteria Assessment

It sounds yucky – and it might be, but forensic biologists are now using analysis of
crime suspects' hair bacteria to match sexual criminal suspects to the victims of their
crimes. Scientists realized that hair samples have microbe populations that are mixed
when people engage in sexual behavior. This makes it easier to prove that an offender
committed an act if there is a match in their microbe population to the victim.

Rapid DNA

This new forensic technology, developed by the Department of Homeland Security

can use DNA to make family connections in times of crisis. The Department of
Immigration Services also wants to use it to connect families that are coming into the
country. And of course, forensic analysts can use this tech to help solve crimes. Unlike
other breakthroughs, this technology is fairly easy to use, and requires little training.
Time-Tracing Fingerprint Technology

We have all seen the detective dust for prints to see if a suspect's fingerprints are
present at the scene of a crime. Now, we can dig even deeper into this process with
advanced fingerprint technology that reveals when a fingerprint was left behind. This
can help eliminate innocent suspects from suspicion, and identify prints that were left
at the scene long before crimes were committed.

3-D Models to Help Examine Victims

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

Photographs from crimes scenes and the morgue can often be hard for jurors and
others to examine or understand. With new 3-D photography technology that uses
image layering, investigators can learn and share more about the evidence they find.
Intricate details revealed on a corpse, like relevant internal damage that may show
signs of old or repeated injuries, but that can't be seen with regular photography, will
now be available.

These are just a few examples of the types of cutting edge forensics technology that
law enforcement is getting their hands on to catch criminals. Police departments and
government agencies, as well as labs that perform forensics testing and research will
only get more sophisticated equipment over time.
Forensic science tech evolves the same way as every other area of technology. Things
get faster, better, and cheaper over time as new technology replaces the old. As a
result, crime solving becomes faster, more efficient and more accurate.
After all, can you remember the last time ybou decided to buy an older model of
phone, a slower computer, or a lower definition television when replacing your current
one? No.
Time will only tell what types of forensics technology the future will bring. But when
you consider what's currently on the horizon, the science fiction dreams we had in the
past look like they might come true in the not-too-distant future.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

CONCLUSION
Although forensic science may be a very complex study, particularly in the areas of
DNA and trace evidence, for example the study of forensic science is grounded in
fundamental concepts and techniques that are gathered from natural sciences. In
particular, the study of forensic science involves a multi-disciplinary approach that
covers everything from biological methods to analytical chemistry techniques.

The majority of forensic scientists study a specific physical science such as chemistry
or biology while others pursue forensic science degrees that are rooted in either
biology or chemistry.

A comprehensive degree, from a college or university, draws from the biological

sciences, as well as from the fields of criminal justice and law. Students learn to
develop an appreciation of both the scientific and social environment of the criminal
justice system and many students go on to focus their degrees on specific areas of
forensic science, such as DNA, trace evidence, toxicology, latent prints or questioned
documents.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, K. Mathiharan and Amrit K.
Patnaik, LexisNexis, Buttersworth, 2010
 Textbook of Modi’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, K. Kannan and K.
Mathiharan, Buttersworths India, 2012
 Medical Jurisprudence, R.M. Jhala and K. Raju, Eastern Book Company, 1997
 Analytical Toxicology, S.N. Tiwari, Government of India Publication, New
Delhi, 1987.
 Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (Law and Procedure), K.S. Narayan
Reddy, ALT Publications, 2006.

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Definition, Nature, Scope, History and Development of Forensic Science

WEBLIOGRAPHY
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_science
 https://unacademy.com/lesson/definition-need-nature-of-forensic-
sciences/AAT9E0JJ
 https://ifflab.org/history-of-forensic-science/
 http://www.santoshraut.com/forensic/forensichistory.htm

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