The essential object of criminal law is to protect society against criminals and law-breakers and to protect law abiding citizens. For this purpose the law holds out threats of punishments to prospective lawbreakers as well as attempts to make the actual offenders suffer the prescribed punishments for their crimes. Therefore, criminal law, in its wider sense, consists of both the substantive criminal law and the procedural (or adjective) criminal law. Substantive criminal law defines offences and prescribes punishments for the same, while the procedural law administers the substantive law. To meet the natural justice, the erring person is subjected to prosecution in the established procedure in the court of law where evidence of guilt to be proved beyond doubt. It is at this juncture Forensic Science play an important role.
Forensic science is application of science in the administration of justice. It plays an important and indispensable part during the investigation of criminal cases and prosecution of offenders through examination of vital clues and physical evidence.
Forensic Science today makes an important contribution to the operation of the Criminal Justice System by providing evidence which could help decide the guilt of a suspect based on scientifically proven facts. The law enforcement agencies are facing an uphill task in securing conviction of suspects, in view of the ever innovative modus operandi being adopted by modern day criminals.
Realizing the importance of Forensic Science in investigation of criminal cases, Government of Karnataka (then Government of Mysore) issued Notification No.HD89PEG, dated: 05.06.1963 to establish Forensic Science Laboratory at Bengaluru. 4 years later, Karnataka Forensic Science Laboratory came into existence on 01.08.1967 to fulfill the needs of criminal justice system. During the last 50 years, the Karnataka Forensic Science Laboratory has seen several milestones during its progress to become an institution of reckoning. Some of the developments can be chronologically listed below;
Since 1967, the Directorate of State Forensic Science Laboratory, Karnataka has come a long way in addressing many cases and has given timely and quality reports. Just as an exemple, one of the AC coaches of Bangalore-Nanded train caught accidental fire near Anathpur, Andra Pradesh in December 2013. 27 people in that coach were charred to death and the bodies were beyond recognition. The bodies have been brought to Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru. After post- mortem, the samples were received by SFSL, Bengaluru along with the blood samples of their relatives for DNA match. The DNA test was conducted and all the 27 dead bodies were positively identified in a span of less than 48 hours. There are few more sensational cases of Karnataka, in which our officers have helped the investigating officers to obtain vital evidences against the culprit. Narco Analysis Test were conducted on dreaded criminal like Kareem Lala Telgi and Abu Salem by psychology section of FSL, Karnataka. In M.M.Kalaburgi and Gowri Lankesh gushot cases our forensic scientists have rendered their assistance to the Investigation Team. In Bangalore serial blast in the year 2008, Malleswaram blast in the year 2012, Church street blast in 2015 and in many such cases, FSL, Karnataka has played an important role in analysis of physical articles which has served as important evidence in the court.
In recent times there has been phenomenal increase in cases referred to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory, Karnataka for examination and expert opinion. The following table indicates number of cases referred to Forensic Science Laboratory in the last eight years;
Like any other progressive State, Government of Karnataka has shown a keen interest in developing the facilities in the State and Regional Forensic Science Laboratories. Some of the initiatives are;
- Karnataka State Government has additionally sanctioned 284 technical and 25 ministerial staff vide G.O. No. EO 08 POCILI 2015, dated: 31.07.2015. Recruitment process in under way.
- New Cadre and Recruitment Rules came into existence to improve the professional growth of scientific officers
- The following new sections are being opened in State Forensic Science Laboratory and Regional Forensic Science Laboratories as per the new Cadre and Recruitment Rules;
State FSL
- Narcotics Section
- Computer Forensics
- Mobile Forensics
- Audio-Visual Forensics
RFSL Mangalore:
- Chemistry Section
- Fire Arms Section
- Questioned Document Section
- Forensic Psychology Section
RFSLs Mysore, Kalburagi, Belgavi and Davangere:
- Chemistry Section
- Questioned Document Section
- Forensic Psychology Section
- The establishment of new Karnataka Forensic Science and Technology Centre is a part of bigger expansion plan of the State Government to provide quality, timely and credible forensic services in the state. This expansion programme has been taken up by the Government of Karnataka by earmarking Rs. 30 Crores for this in the State Budget. 12.00 Crores has alsready been released and work is in progress.
- In DFSL, Karnataka, the old obsolete instruments have given way to state-of-the-art equipments which have made the lab one of the best equipped forensic labs in the country. These equipments, which have been purchased under modernization grants, have improved the quality of analysis and also have made the analysis more scientific and less prone to human errors. The government is alive to the importance of having a well-equipped forensic lab, hence each year; a sizable amount is allocated to the lab for its advancement. In the year 2018 alone, modern forensic science equipments of around Rs.15.00 have been purchases.
- The year 2017-18 was especially significant for the laboratory as an amount of around 32 crores was released for the purchase of equipment. This includes Rs. 19.47 crores for establishing district cyber forensic aid units in all the districts of Karnataka. As the number of cyber-crimes is increasing the world over, these centres are a step towards being better prepared and dealing with such challenges head on. They will give the much needed technological fillip to the process of investigation of cyber related crimes. Further, an additional amount of Rs. 4.97 crores has been released by the Government of Karnataka for the establishment of an additional cyber forensic lab in the state forensic science lab. As a result, best available instruments in the field of cyber forensics are being purchased which will bring Karnataka cyber lab at par with the best cyber labs in the country.
The cyber section of the FSL was notified as Electronic Evidence Examiner under section 79 (A) of IT act on 04.09.2018 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of Government of India. This makes it one of the six forensic labs of the country to be notified. This notification has given greater credence to the evidences of our cyber experts in the court of law.
Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory has become a beacon of advancement in forensic sciences in these last fifty years. With several achievements under its belt and the constant support of the government machinery, it is only destined to grow by leaps and bounds.