Teaching Plan

of
Criminal Forensics

for
B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
Semester- IX
Session- 2023-24

Compiled By :

Dr. Sankalp Singh

Assistant Professor of Law
 Table of Contents

Sr. No. Contents Page No.

1. Preface 3

2. Objectives of the Course 3

3. Learning Outcomes 3-4

4. Syllabus 4-6

5. Reference Material 6-8

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PREFACE/OUTLINE OF THE SUBJECT-

The modern age is described as the era of science and technology as almost every sphere of
human life is closely linked with scientific technology. The Court of law also places much
emphasis on scientific methods for completion of investigation and conclusion of trial wherever
it is necessary. It is often supposed that a human being especially concerned with the crime like
accused, witnesses and victim can tell a lie but a scientific method for determining truth cannot.
In this respect, the great significance of techniques of forensic science in criminal justice system
has been recognized not only by the Court of law but also by the legal practitioners,
academicians and lay men.

Law and science are interdependent because just as scientific development is based on legal
principles in the same manner the progressive legal domain depends on legal rules, their
modification from time to time and their application to decide the dispute of the disputants. The
Forensic Science includes within its regime different branches of science focusing on examining
fingerprint, writing, Narco-Analysis, DNA Profiling, Brain Mapping, Lie Detection, etc. These
tests are regarded more authentic to discover crime and criminal than other kinds of evidences.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE-

Forensic Science techniques play role of vital persuasive evidence in the Court of law to
corroborate or negate oral evidences. The opinion of expert of Forensic Science engaged in
conducting the relevant tests e.g. DNA Analysis, Narco Analysis, etc. may be accepted by the
Court with greater credibility placed on it to reach the finding about commission or non-
commission of crime by the alleged accused person. The prime objective of introducing this
subject to the law scholars is to provide them modicum for having knowledge about the most
reliable and authentic technique in the present era in the criminal field by the Court of law which
makes the justice delivery system speedy, lucid and more reliable.

LEARNING OUTCOMES-

The law scholars will certainly be benefitted by study of this discipline of law on the following
advantageous counts-

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 • The law scholars will be inspired to understand Forensic Science providing modern
techniques to strengthen horizon of law of evidence.
• The study of the subject will sufficiently enable the law scholars to have a sound
knowledge about credibility of expert opinion as the result of forensic tests is regarded
more authentic in comparison to oral evidences.
• The law scholars will be motivated to understand the importance of modern tests
conducted on the basis of Forensic Science and come across the knowledge at depth as to
how and why these tests are considered more authentic than other kinds of evidences.
• The criminal investigation based on Forensic Science will encourage the law scholars
how these tests and techniques are helpful in determination of guilt and innocence of
concerned persons in a criminal case.
• The law scholars will enhance their capability of making critical evaluation of forensic
examination and tests by the experts and find themselves in a state where they can form
value-based opinion widening their logical approach.
• The understanding of the subject will surely be helpful to upsurge the ability of law
scholars to analyse critically the approach that how justice through science attains a
reasonable certainty to identify truthfulness about the cause of the crime and person
committing the crime.

SYLLABUS-

Module I-
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE AND LEGAL APPLICATION [12 Hours]
• Meaning; Historical Background; Science, Law and Forensic Science; Necessity/Role of
Forensic Science in Justice Delivery System
• Scope; Principles
• Relationship between Forensic Science, Law and Justice; Application in Criminal
Investigation;
• Provisions under the Constitution of India
• Provisions under the Indian Evidence Act, 1872

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Module II-
MEDICO-LEGAL FORENSIC [12 Hours]
• DNA Forensic
• Narco-Analysis
• Polygraph Test
• Blood and other bodily fluids analysis
• Investigation in drug related offences; Forensic Toxicology

Module III-
FORENSIC MEDICINE AND FORENSIC BALLISTICS [12 Hours]
• Forensic Medicine; Injuries
• Death Investigations; Introduction to Asphyxial Death
• Historical backdrop of ballistics fingerprinting; Classification of forensic ballistics-
Internal, External, Transition, Terminal Ballistics
• Firearms and Ammunition; Guidelines of ballistics
• Rifled weapon wounds; Reconstruction of crime scene in firearm related crimes

Module IV-
CYBER AND DIGITAL FORENSIC [12 Hours]
• Cyber Forensic
• Cell phone Forensic
• Digital Image Forensic
• Voice and Video Analysis
• Criminal Profiling in Forensics

Module V-
FINGERPRINT, DOCUMENT AND OTHER MARKS EXAMINATION AND
SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES [12 Hours]
• Analysis of Fingerprint; Digital Imaging of Fingerprint;
• Surveillance; Ear and Lip Prints

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 • Track Mark Examination
• Tool Mark Analysis
• Document Examination

REFERENCE MATERIAL-

BOOKS ON FORENSIC LAW:

• A.K. Jain, P. Flynn & A.A. Ross, Handbook of Biometrics, Springer.

• B. R. Sharma, Firearms in Criminal Investigation & Trials, Universal Law Publishing.
• B. R. Sharma, Forensic Science In Criminal Investigation and Trials, Lexis Nexis.
• B.C. Bridges, Criminal Investigation, Practical Fingerprinting, Thumb Impression,
Handwriting expert Testimony, Opinion Evidence, University Book Agency.
• Dejey & Murugan, Cyber Forensics, Oxford University Press.
• J. Butler, Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing: Methodology, Academic Press.
• K. Kannan, Modi, A Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, Lexis Nexis.
• Lalji Singh, DNA Fingerprinting: The Witness Within, I K International Publishing
House Pvt. Ltd.
• Lalji Singh, My Travails in the Witness Box, I K International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.
• M.M. Houck, & J.A. Siegel, Fundamentals of Forensic Science, Acadamic Press,
London.
• Marjie T. Britz, Computer Forensics and Cyber Crime: An Introduction, Pearson.
• Niranjan Reddy, Practical Cyber Forensics: An Incident-Based Approach to Forensic
Investigations, Apress.
• T. Brown, Gene cloning and DNA analysis: An Introduction, Blackwell Publishing.

BOOKS ON INDIAN PENAL CODE:

• Andrew Ashworth, Principles of Criminal Law, Clarendon Law Series.
• Hari Singh Gaur, Penal Law of India (4 Volumes), EBC.
• K.D. Gaur, A Text Book on Indian Penal Code Universal Law Publishing.
• Kenny on Outlines of Criminal Law, Cambridge University Press.

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 • Prof. S.N. Misra, Indian Penal Code, Central Law Publication.
• R.C. Nigam, Principles of Criminal Law by, Law of Crimes in India, Vol. I, Asia
Publishing House, New York.
• Ratanlal and Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code, Wadhwa and Company, Nagpur.
• Shamsul Huda, Principles of the Law of Crimes, Eastern Book Company.

BOOKS ON LAW OF EVIDENCE:

• Batuk Lal, Law of Evidence, Central Law Agency.
• Dr. Avtar Singh, Law of Evidence, Central Law Publication.
• Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, Law of Evidence, EBC.
• S. Sarkar, Law of Evidence, Eastern Book Depot.

BOOKS ON CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE:

• Batuk Lal, Commentary on Code of Criminal Procedure, Thomson Reuters.
• K.N.C. Pillai, R.V. Kelkar’s Lectures on Criminal Procedure, Eastern Book Co.
• Prof. S.N. Mishra, The Code of Criminal Procedure, Central Law Agency.
• R.V. Kelkar, Criminal Procedure, Eastern Book Co.

ARTICLES & REPORTS:

• Caton, J. L. (2016), NATO Cyberspace Capability: A Strategic and Operational
Evolution, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College.
• Dr. M.W. Pandit and Dr. Lalji Singh, DNA testing, Evidence Act and Expert Witness,
Indian Police Journal, Oct.-Dec., 2000, p. 99.
• Goodison, S. E., Davis, R. C., & Jackson, B. A. (2015), Digital Evidence and the U.S.
Criminal Justice System: Identifying Technology and Other Needs to More Effectively
Acquire and Utilize Digital Evidence. In Digital Evidence and the U.S. Criminal Justice
System: Identifying Technology and Other Needs to More Effectively Acquire and
Utilize Digital Evidence (pp. 1–32), RAND Corporation.
• Hans, V. P., & Saks, M. J. (2018), Improving Judge & Jury Evaluation of Scientific
Evidence, Daedalus, 147(4), 164–180.

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• Hitchens, T., & Goren, N. (2017), International Cybersecurity Information Sharing
Agreements, Center for International & Security Studies, U. Maryland.
• Law Commission of India, Report No. 185, Review of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872,
2003.
• Law Commission of India, Report No. 239, Expeditious Investigation and Trial of
Criminal Cases Against Influential Public Personalities, 2012.
• Law Commission of India, Report No. 271, Human DNA Profiling – A draft Bill for the
Use and Regulation of DNA-Based Technology, 2017.
• Macswiney, S. M. (1867), Medico-Legal Evidence, The British Medical Journal, 2(361),
492–494.
• Padmanabhan, A., Reddy, R. S., & Sharma, S. (2017), Modern Biotechnology and India’s
Governance Imperatives, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
• Sullivan, C. (2011). Digital Identity — Inherent Vulnerabilities. In Digital Identity: An
Emergent Legal Concept (pp. 59–70), University of Adelaide Press.

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