forensic dna analysis

HISTORY OF VARIOUS  LABORATORIES IN INDIA

1. CHEMICAL EXAMINER’S LABORATORIES:

During the nineteenth century, when the cases of death due the poisoning posed a controversy to the enforcement agencies, a necessity was felt for isolating detecting and estimating various poisons absorbed within the human system. 

Therefore, the first chemical examiner laboratory was founded for this purpose at the then Madras Presidency, under the department of health, during 1849.

Later similar laboratories were founded at Calcutta (1853), followed by one each at Agra (1864) and Bombay (1870). 

These labs were furnished to examine the toxicological analysis of viscera, biological analysis of stains of blood, semen, etc. and specific examination of food, drugs and different excisable materials to deliver scientific support to the criminal justice system within their limited means.

2. ANTHROPOMTERIC BUREAU:

While some progress was made within the identification of poisons, the identification of individuals specifically criminal was still being exhausted in a rather haphazard manner.

Policemen would attempt to memorize convict’s face. 

With the introduction of photography, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) maintained records of each known criminal including an in-depth description of his appearance.

3. FINGERPRINT BUREAU:

William Herschel, the collector of the district of Hooghly (Bengal) found that markings on the fingertips of someone never changed during his lifetime. 

Herschel administered his expertise and skill in constructing a system of recording finger or thumb impression of local contractors to secure the interest of the govt. against the disapproval of contracts by them. 

After that, he expanded his registration method to confinement management for classifying imprisoned convicts.

In 1891, Edward Richard Henry’s appointment, the officer of Police in Bengal, introduce the thumb impression within the records slips, containing Anthropometric data, to avoid wrong identification.

Henry approached the govt. to hunt approval for replacing the Anthropometrics data with fingerprints for the identification of the recidivist. 

The first fingerprint bureau within the world was officially inaugurated at Calcutta in July 1897. 

Thus, the personnel identification solely supported fingerprint commenced in India.

Today, 29 Fingerprint Bureaus are functioning in the states/UT’s. These fingerprint bureaus are under the fingerprint division of the national crime record bureau in India.

4. DEPARTMENT OF EXPLOSIVE:

When the utilization of explosive for subversive activities became common, it had been found necessary to delete the reason behind the explosion, either accidental or intentional.

The muse of the department of explosive was laid when the primary chief inspector of explosive was appointed within the year 1898, together with his headquarter at Nagpur.

After that five regional laboratories at Calcutta, Bombay, Agra, Madras, and Gwalior,  were opened.

 5. GOVERNMENT EXAMINER OF QUESTIONED   DOCUMENT, SHIMLA:

The British Government of Bengal felt the need of identifying the handwriting on the key documents connected with the Indian independence movement and, therefore, created the post of presidency graphologist of Bengal. 

Mr CR Hardless, the then superintendent within the A.G.’s office in Bengal, was appointed to the present post in 1904. 

This setup was shifted to Shimla within the year 1906 and was placed under CID's control.

Questioned Documents Examination, Handwriting Examination, Examination of the charred document, Disguised signature, Typewriting Analysis, MasterCard and Cheque Frauds, Paper and Ink Examination, Anonymous Latter, Threatening Latter, Wrongful Termination from Job/ Organization, Fingerprint the investigation, Fingerprint Lifting, Fingerprint Development, Forensic Photography Fingerprint Chart for-VISA / Passport, Will Documents, Deed, Property Document and Paper Examination, verification and other subject associated with this area.

 6. SEROLOGIST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA:

When the science of examining human blood developed in India, it became possible to look at blood and seminal stain in an exceedingly criminal investigation.  

Realising the attention of forensic serology, an institute called as Serology Department’ was formed in Calcutta in 1910 the top of this institute was designated as imperial Serologist to the govt. of India.

Dr Hankin helped in establishing the department. Though the scientific techniques serological examination were at the infancy stage, this institute provided valuable scientific support by analyzing biological material for crime investigations.

 7. FOOTPRINT SECTION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT:

During the year 1915, a Footprint The section was established under the CID, Government of Bengal, which helped the Police Authorities to spot criminals through the examination of Footprints collection from the scene of the crime.

 8. NOTE FORGERY SECTION IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT:

In 1917, a Note Forgery Department was formed under the CID, Government of Bengal, to initiate the examination of forged currency notes.

The Revenue Division also introduced its own lab for identification of drugs and narcotics, alcohol analysis and evaluation of the purity levels of invaluable metals like gold and silver, etc

In addition, the Government Mint and Surveillance Printing Division at Nasik also authorized their individual laboratories for identifying cases of counterfeit or forged currency notes.

9. BALLISTICS LABORATORY:

In 1930, an Arms expert was appointed and little the ballistic laboratory was founded under the Calcutta Police to cater to the examination of firearms.

As the menace of firearms grew other state CIDs also established small ballistics laboratories to assist them within the criminal investigation.

 

10. SCIENTIFIC SECTION WITHIN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION:

During 1936, a Scientific The section was founded under the CID in Bengal and facilities were created for examination of bullets, cartridge cases, firearms, etc., utilized in committing a criminal offence. 

Few other states also started a scientific section in their CID, where the investigation on fingerprints, footprints, firearms and questioned documents were also applied.

11. STATE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY, CALCUTTA:

The first state forensic lab in India was established within the year 1952 at Calcutta.

This laboratory became fully operational within the year 1953. The Medico-legal Section of the Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory was also transferred to the current laboratory. 

During the year 1955, a tiny low unit of Physics was established within the state State Forensic ScienceLaboratory to handle various physical was established in examinations of exhibits encountered in crime investigation. 

In the same year, the Footprint and the Note Forgery Section of the Criminal Investigation Department were transferred to the current laboratory. 

The General Chemistry Section of Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory was also transferred to the present laboratory. 

Thus, the primary multidisciplinary forensic science lab came into existence within the country.

12. CENTRAL FINGERPRINT BUREAU:

On the advice of the Royal Police Commission of 1902-03, the primary Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB) in India was established in 1905 at Shimla. 

The CFPB restarted performing from 1955 in Delhi under the executive control of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). 

The major role envisaged for CFPB was to coordinate the activities of state FPBs in tracing/locating inter-state criminals. 

In August 1956, the CFPB was shifted to Calcutta and remained under the executive control of IB. 

In September 1973, it had been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation and through July 1986, the administrative control of the CFPB was transferred to the national crime record bureau of India.

13. CENTRAL FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES:

The first Central Forensic science lab was established at Calcutta in 1957. 

This laboratory was inaugurated into four basic division viz. Forensic Physics, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, Forensic Ballistics. 

For the application of the nuclear method of research to a criminal investigation, the Neutron Activation Unit of CFSL, Calcutta was founded in 1970 at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai.

During the year 1965, the second central forensic lab was established at Hyderabad, The CFSL, Hyderabad initially established analytical facilities within the discipline of Forensic Physics, Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Biology.

The Central Forensic workplace, Chandigarh, was first established within the year 1933 at Lahore and was shifted to Chandigarh during 1961.