Abstract
The paper deals with the role of Forensic Science in criminal investigation in India. Forensic science plays a pivotal role in modern crime investigation since it links the potential offender to a crime scene. The investigating officers and the court rely heavily on forensic evidence as it guides criminal investigators and provides accurate information to judges about the crime so that they can take decisions about crime with full confidence. Starting from a brief introduction about forensic science and discussing the historical background of forensic science in India, the paper descends to the recent techniques and their impact. It is important because as a scientific method, it can help as evidence before court to prove facts. It helps to serve justice more accurately. Forensic evidence contains the most scientific techniques such as DNA profiling, fingerprint analysis, toxicology, ballistics etc. The paper would then proceed to discuss the law relating to experts and Scientific Evidence. The paper also examines the constitutional validity of forensic techniques. Another interest concerning the study involves cases solved with the help of forensics in India.
Keywords: Forensic Science, Fundamental Principles, Expert Evidence, DNA profiling, Constitution of India.
Introduction
From the commencement of human civilization, crime plays as one of the ingredients in our society. From the beginning of the traditional Era, society has had a dynamic nature which means, when the needs of people change, Society changes. Likewise, technologies will get advanced, which gives space for the way crime commits to get advanced.Criminals start to commit offences using advanced technologies which will become hard to prove. Traditional methods which were used for crime investigations were Confessions, Examinations, Deposition, and various other methods. Early days onwards, it showed insufficiency in showcasing criminals and crime, so to cope up with this insufficiency, forensic science developed, and it became one of the most important scientific tools.
Forensic science literally means applying scientific principles and techniques to Law. More importantly, when it comes to crime investigation, the term Forensic developed from the Latin word “forensis”, which means before the court of law. Forensic Science has evolved from various branches such as biology, physics, chemistry, technology and medicine. These branches are very essential in crime investigations under forensic science; it helps to examine and scrutinise evidence and it helps courts in identifying truth. It’s one of the most energetic, charismatic and contemporary and exhilarating branches of science used in identifying crimes and criminals.[1]
In the modern era, Scientific development plays a vital role in society. It helps society by providing accurate scientific evidence. It helps police and other investigators in identifying the offender or suspect and victim and mainly it concludes on what basis the death has happened. In simple words it intervenes in between suspect victim and crime. As it creates a link, it acts as a connecting link between Forensic science and law.
[1]Nayan Joshi, Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology (Kamal Publishers, New Delhi, 2008) 23