University of Kashmir

School of Law

Definition, Development and History of Forensic Science.

Subject: Forensic Science and Law

Submitted to: Dr. Aneeda Jan.

Submitted by:
Name: Sakib Altaf
Enrollment no.19043122038
Course: LLB (3rd Semester).
Shift: Morning
What Is Forensic Science?

While investigating a homicide, a n investigator carefully dusts a window for fingerprints. As the
black powder is spread across the glass, a faint fingerprint begins to appear. He carefully lifts
the print and takes it back to the lab. When the fingerprint is entered into the computer, a
possible match is identified, and the suspect is picked up for questioning. When the suspect is
asked how his fingerprints could have ended up at the crime scene, he confesses to the murder.
This is an example of using forensic science to solve a crime.

The simplest definition of forensic science is any science used within the criminal justice
system. While this definition may be simple, the field of forensic science is anything but simple.
Crime scene investigators and lab technicians use specialized skills and tools to collect, analyze,
and present evidence in order to solve a crime or successfully convict the offender. The
increased use of scientific methods to collect and examine evidence has led to the closure of
many criminal cases that could not be solved through old-fashioned detective work alone. New
testing methods are even being applied to cold cases, or cases from many years ago that
remain unsolved.

Forensic science can be used to:

• Prove elements of a crime

• Verify or discredit victim or suspect statements
• Identify decedents or suspects
• Establish a connection to a crime or crime scene

History of Forensic Science:

Medical exams to determine cause of death have been used for centuries, but the use of
science to investigate crimes and identify criminals began in the mid to late 1800s.

During the 19th and 20th century it became more popular with a scientific approach or
forensic. Among the lot, a person who initiated the practical aspect of the scientific application
for the criminal investigation was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Through his fictitious character
Sherlock Holmes, he popularized the scientific fields investigation. Later on, there were many
scientists who got expertise in various fields of forensics.
Experts in different fields of Forensic Science:

As modernization was coming, different scientists made significant developments in various

fields of forensics and came to be known as the Father of those particular fields.

• Mathieu Orfila (1757-1853)

Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim or ‘Paracelsus‘ is credited as the

Father of Toxicology for his achievements in Toxicology in 16th century.

Mathieu Joseph Orfila was a Spanish Toxicologist and Chemist. He studied and published a book
on the effects of poisons on animals and the ways of detecting a particular poison, a work that
established ‘Toxicology’ as a legitimate scientific Endeavour. For his publication in Forensic
Toxicology in the 19th century he is known as the Father of Modern Toxicology.

• Alphonse Bertillon (1813-1914)

He devised the scientific system of personal identification. He started to develop scientific

anthropometry which is a systematic procedure of taking a series of body measurements as a
means of differentiating one individual from another. This has been later replaced by the
Fingerprints.

However, for his achievements of creating the Bertillon system and identifying criminals
through scientific processes, he is considered as the father of criminal investigation.

• FRANCIS GALTON (1822-1911)

He undertook the first systemic study of fingerprints. He developed a methodology of

classifying the fingerprints for filing purposes. In 1892, he published a book on fingerprints
giving a sound statistical proof of uniqueness of individualization through fingerprints.
 • Edmond Locard (1847-1915)

Edmond Locard was a French criminologist. He discovered the basic principle of Forensic
Science i.e., Locard’s exchange principle which states that ‘Every contact leaves a trace’.

• Leone Lattes (1887-1954)

Dr Karl Landsteiner discovered the blood groups but Dr Leone Lattes devised a relatively simple
procedure for determining blood group from a drop or from the dried bloodstain. The
procedure developed by Dr Leone Lattes is still in use today. She is credited as the ‘Father of
Bloodstain identification’.

Development of Forensic science in India:

In India, there was the fingerprint bureau under the State Criminal Investigation Department
[C.I.D] which was providing the examination of fingerprints, footprints and document analysis.
Chemical tests on biological evidence were also done such as with blood and other visceral
tissues.

Due to the slow process and lack of systematic development, the Forensic Science Laboratory
(FSL) was set up by various state governments. First such State laboratory was set up in 1952 at
Calcutta which became fully functional in 1953. Central forensic science laboratory and central
fingerprint bureau were established in Calcutta in 1955 and 1957.

Later with the recommendation of the central advisory committee, other Forensic Laboratories
were established in Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

At present Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) acts as a nodal agency for the
central government. In states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, and U.P
regional FSL were set up. Other institutions like the department of explosives, Indian security
press were also set up later.

Modern biological techniques were made available in the Centre for DNA fingerprinting and
diagnostics situation in Hyderabad. It carries out DNA profiling diagnostics, analysis and
bioinformatics.

This centre has a database for all the casework that was entrusted to them for the analysis and
is the primary centre for DNA testing.
Anthropometry Bureau:
This was established in Calcutta in 1892. This bureau had adopted Bertillon’s method personal
identification. This centre has got records of criminals such photographs and other detailed
descriptions of appearance

Finger Print Bureau:

William Herschel the collector of Hugli in West Bengal found that markings on the fingertips of
an individual are unique and never change during their lifetime. He applied his knowledge and
skill in devising a system of registration of finger and thumb impression. Edward Henry followed
this principle of recording fingerprint of criminals and thereby a fingerprint bureau was
established in 1897 at Calcutta.

Department of Explosives:
During the British rule explosions and explosive related activities became common and to
detect the type of explosives and cause of explosions the department of explosives was set up
in Nagpur and later established in 5 other regions of India i.e.,

• Calcutta
• Bombay
• Madras
• Agra
• Gwalior

Foot Print Section of C.I.D:

It was established in Calcutta in 1915. The main duty was to collect, preserve and analyze the
footprint for identification of criminals.
Forgery Section of C.I.D
In 1917 this section was set up under C.I.D by the government of West Bengal. They detect
cases of currency /coins and forgery notes/documents. Later on, government security printing
press was established in Nasik.

Ballistics Division:
In 1930, it was established in Calcutta for the examination of firearms as the incidents of
firearms were increasing. Later, the ballistics division was added in many state forensic
laboratories.

Mobile Forensic Laboratory

Most of the states in India have got this Facility. The main function is to help police personnel in
their investigation at a crime scene by helping them to locate, to collect and preserve the
evidence. The team will also provide a photographic facility to record a crime scene and
valuable evidence. Another important duty is to guide the police to collect an adequate and
correct sample for comparison and also provide leads for further investigations.

Scientific C.I.D Section:

Some police are trained scientifically to help the department where technical photography,
scientific surveillance and investigations and other technical needs are existing.

Cyber Forensics:
Though the uses of computer in police organizations are limited still they have more
significance in the collection, recording and analyzing data in the electronic form. This may be
available in any crimes involving either physical presence of the perpetrator or even in the
absence of oneself.

It would be mandatory that no crime would be possible to be committed without the

communication of the information in any form (such as calls through mobile phones, email,
SMS messages etc). There is a possibility of retrieving all these data through the analysis done
in this division. Not only the retrieval of the data but also the possible determination of the
location of the specific data that has been generated.