Q-1: Is there any secure or permanent Job on fixed salary in Private Forensic Sector after B.Sc or M.Sc. Forensic Science?

Answer: No. 

It is explained in the following points:-

• There is no secure and permanent job on fixed salary in Private Forensic Field as it is not job demanded field because there are legal complication and boundations about which freshers Forensic students are not fully aware. 

• There is no admissibility and relevancy of Forensic report in the Court of Law if a client directly approaches to Private Forensic Lab for taking Expert Opinion in the cases pertaining to DNA, Blood testing, Poison Cases, Arson Cases, Narcotics, Forensic Chemistry, Physics, Anthropology, Odontology, Crime scene reconstruction, theft, suicide, homicide and accidental. In such type of cases, Private Forensic Experts do not have any right as well as legal authority to examine the suspected samples/Exhibits in such divisions. That's  why, there is no requirement of Staff i.e. Lab Assistant etc. in these divisions in the Private Forensic Sector.  So, it is not possible to come recruitments in these divisions in Private Sector. 

• Private Forensic Experts/Lab can examine the suspected samples/Exhibits only in the cases of Handwriting,  Fingerprints, Voice Identification, Audio-Video Examination where an expert submits his/her Forensic opinion when disputes arises on the authenticity  of signatures, handwriting, Fingerprints, voice analysis etc. Private Forensic Experts have full authority and right to examine the suspected samples/Exhibits independently in the cases of signatures, handwriting, Fingerprints, voice analysis.

• In nutshell, if any student has done specialization in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology etc. and he/she is looking for job in private sector in such division then it is totally useless due to aforementioned legal restrictions. 

Q-2: What is the main reason behind no secure and permanent job in the Private Forensic Field ?

Answer: As stated above, Private Forensic Experts do not have any right as well as legal authority to examine the suspected  samples/Exhibits in most of the Forensic divisions i.e. DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology etc., therefore Forensic Labs do not exist in Private sector that can give facility and Expert Opinion equivalent to FSL in such divisions.  Since, Private Forensic Labs are not found in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology etc so, it is not possible to come recruitments in these divisions.  

In DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology etc division, suspected samples are sent only to the FSL as per the jurisdiction and there is no role of Private Forensic Expert or Lab to examine the suspected samples and to provide Expert report to establish homicidal, suicidal or accidental causes of death. 

Since, there is no provision in the Indian Law to examine the suspected samples by the Private Forensic Lab/Expert in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Physics, Chemistry etc., hence the role of Private Expert become useless in the laboratory testing and examination in such divisions. As per legal restrictions, Police Officer/I.O send the suspected samples i.e. Blood, Semen, Saliva, other biological fluids, firearms, glass, soil etc to the FSL after packaging along with the Memo to find out the cause and manner of death.

Q-3: Are the Private Forensic Lab entitled to take cases in all divisions of Forensic Science?

Answer: No. 

Suspected Case Samples in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology, Arson, Narcotics, Forensic Chemistry, Physics etc. come under criminal category and there is involvement of Police to investigate such type of Cases. Deceased/Victim cannot get examined the suspected sample from any Private Forensic Lab in such Cases with own wish. Police collect the suspected sample from the crime scene with the help of govt forensic team and send to the FSL for findings regarding the identity as well as cause and manner of death. Case become as 'State Vs Accused'. So, there is no role of Private Expert/Lab in the examination of suspected samples in these divisions. With this information, Private Forensic Labs are not entitled to take cases in all the divisions of Forensic Science.

Q-4 : In  which divisions of Forensic Science Private Forensic Expert/Lab is entitled to take cases and to file own report in the Court?

Answer: Legally, Private Forensic Expert/Lab is entitled to take cases in Questioned Documents, Fingerprints, Voice Analysis, Audio-Video Examination as well as Cyber Forensic. In these division, Client can directly file the report in the Court prepared by Private Forensic Expert/Lab which is fully admissible U/S 45 of Indian Evidence Act (IEA).  If a case is already running in the Court, and at any stage Opinion of Handwriting/Fingerprint Expert is sought, then Counsel for the Plaintiff or Defendant  move an application before the Hon'ble Court to engage Private Forensic Expert for the purpose of file inspection in order to take the expert opinion regarding the authenticity and veracity of the signatures/Handwriting and Fingerprint. In Delhi, NCR, Haryana, U.P and Punjab and some other States, Court never handover the original documents to the Private Forensic Expert/Lab, so expert visits to the Court and take photographs from the Judicial file and prepare report on the basis of photographic comparison. After submission of the report, cross examination of an expert witness is conducted by the Counsel of the opposite party. It is a routine work of any Private Forensic Expert or lab.

Q-5 : How a Private Forensic Expert/Lab can make scope in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology, Arson, Narcotics, Forensic Chemistry, Physics etc?

Answer: As stated earlier, Private Expert/Lab cannot examine the suspected Case sample/Exhibits in these divisions but he can assist to the defense party in the Cross Examination of FSL Experts.  Private Expert can prepare the cross questions after go through the FSL report. He can make efforts to find out the discrepancies in the FSL report and can put the questions in the cross examination of FSL Expert.  He can assist to the defense lawyer in the interpretation of FSL report and to make the objections in this regard. 

Q-6 : What should a Fresher Forensic student do after completing B.Sc and M.Sc Forensic Science?

Answer:  Fresher Forensic Student should keep the following points in the mind-

• First of all, he will have to decide whether he wants to make career as a Private Forensic Practitioner in Private Sector or he wants to go in Government sector i.e. FSL

• If he wants to make career in Private Forensic field, then he should detach the job psychology  from his mind if he is looking for a job in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology, Arson, Narcotics, Forensic Chemistry, Physics divisions. Because there is no Private Lab exist that can offer job like FSL in such divisions.

• He should aware that in which divisions of Forensic Science private Forensic work can be done independently. 

• He should aware that in which divisions of Forensic Science private Forensic work cannot be done.

• He should aware that there is no FSL type Lab in Private Sector that can submit report U/S 293 Cr.P.C and further he must aware that there is no such type of laboratory like FSL that may have division like FSL such as DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Anthropology, Arson, Narcotics etc, where vacancies comes time to time. 

• He should aware that only on the basis of academic qualification, private work cannot be started. So, he should get practical training under the supervision of Private Expert to learn Forensic legal proceeding to become expert witness.

• Many Forensic Students apply for job in private Lab by keeping the view in their mind that they are applying in FSL type Laboratory in private sector. But the real fact is that, they are only private institutions which takes registration under ISO, LLP etc and running their business through conducting Training, Webinars, Online Courses etc. Many Forensic Pass outs are working there on the basis of fixed salary in terms of official staff. However, students may join such institute for taking training on the subjects of handwriting, Fingerprints, Voice Analysis, cyber etc which is helpful to become self independent expert or to open own Forensic firm.

Q-7: In which divisions of Forensic Science there is no scope on the job perspective in Private sector?

Answer: Since, there is no provision in the Indian Law to examine the suspected samples by the Private Forensic Lab/Expert in DNA, Biology, Toxicology, Serology, Physics, Chemistry Ballistic etc., hence the role of Private Expert become useless in the laboratory testing and examination in such divisions. As per legal restrictions, Police Officer/I.O send the suspected samples i.e. Blood, Semen, Saliva, other biological fluids, firearms, glass, soil etc to the FSL after packaging along with the Memo to find out the cause and manner of death. So, there is no scope of Job in the private sector in these divisions of Forensic Science.

Q-8: In which divisions of Forensic Science there is scope of work in Private sector?

Answer: Legally, Private Forensic Expert/Lab is entitled to take cases in Questioned Documents, Fingerprints, Voice Analysis, Audio-Video Examination as well as Cyber Forensic. In these division, Client can directly file the report in the Court prepared by Private Forensic Expert/Lab which is fully admissible U/S 45 of Indian Evidence Act (IEA). 

Q-9: Why an experienced and senior Private expert cannot take assistance from the fresher Forensic Student in his Court Cases?

Answer: In Handwriting & Fingerprint Cases, the expert who sign the report will face cross examination in the Court. So, it is not practically possible to prove the report writing skill of another expert in the cross examination. One who prepared the report, can successfully handle the cross examination. If an expert, gets prepared his report from fresher expert then it would be very difficult for him to prove this report in his cross examination. 

Q-10: What is the scope of Forensic Science in India?

Answer: The scope of Forensic Science in India is described as under:-

Forensic Experts and their Legal Admissibility in Indian Courts:-

1.  Legally, expert is produced in the court of law as witness that's way it is known as expert witness.

2.  There are two types of experts in Forensic Field :-

·      FSL/CFSL Experts

·      Private Expert

3.  The report given by the FSL/CFSL Expert in the court of Law is admissible U/s 293 Cr.P.C.

4.  The report given by the Private experts (either on the personal letterhead or company letterhead) is admissible  U/s 45 of IEA

Existence of Forensic Council of India:-

There is no council like Bar Council, Medical council etc, has been established so far in India for Forensic Experts. Therefore, there is no license authority that can issue Registration Number/Enrollment Number for Forensic experts in India.

All the Private Experts are working on the basis of their qualification, experience and expertise in different states of India.

Working sectors of Forensic Science in India :-

The working sectors/areas in Forensic science can be divided into major 4 categories:-

1.  Government Sector/FSL

2.  Private Sector

3.  Teaching Sector

4.  Medical Sector

GOVT/FSL/CFSL LABORATORIES –

In this sector Expert is named as Junior Forensic Assistant, Scientific Officer (SO), Senior Scientific Officer (SSO), Laboratory Assistant etc

Jobs criteria - 1) Contract base 2) Permanent

Contractual Base JOB Eligibility – M.Sc Forensic Science/M.Sc in Physics, Chemistry, Biology along with the previous B.Sc which must be in pure science like Physics, Chemistry, Biology as well as in Biotechnology, Microbiology. As per the information, different FSL adopt different procedures for the candidates holding B.Sc Degree in Forensic Science.

Permanent Job Eligibility –

·  Each State FSL has its own standard procedure for recruitments depending upon the division requirement. There is no similar type of procedure in all the states.

·  Vacancies come time to time at State level and Central level.

· UPSC conduct interviews time to time for getting higher position or grade in FSL/CFSL.

PRIVATE SECTOR –

1.  It is very necessary to know that in private sector, the scope of work in legal point of view is limited up to certain division.

2.  There is no need of license to start private practice being Forensic expert because no Council in this regard as stated above.

3.  Private experts are restricted to perform analysis and examination on the evidences only in the following sections/areas of Forensic:-

·  In the examination of questioned documents as a Handwriting & Fingerprint Expert in any states of India

·  Private experts can take cases on Audio-Video Analysis, Voice Identification and Comparison

·  Digital and Cyber Forensic in corporate sector

·  Forensic Psychology- Developing slowly but surely in private sector like hospital, mental cases etc

·  Forensic Training- Can guide to other students by way of his Practical and field work experience in the form of Training/Internship.

Limitations of Private Experts-

· They cannot run Government type agency that can give report equivalent to FSL/CFSL under section 293 Cr.P.C and as such no provision in Indian Law till now.

·  In Criminal Cases, Court refers the suspected samples to FSL/CFSL for obtaining the report on Blood Groups, DNA, Poison, Viscera, etc. So, private or deceased/victim party cannot directly approach to private expert for testing such evidences due to legal restrictions in the Law.

· Private Experts (Individual or from private firms/company) cannot take any case in which Police investigation is going on or in pending or where charge sheet is to be filed. In brutal and heinous crimes, only FSL Forensic team is entitled to visit crime scene for evidence collection and sampling as well as photography in Accidental, Suicidal and Homicidal Cases. So, there is no role of Private expert in above division of Forensic science. Means to say, private laboratory/agency is not possible even now that can submit report equivalent to under section 293 Cr.P.C.

· Private expert cannot examine the Suspected sample of DNA, toxicology, Serology, etc but they can assist to accused lawyer in the cross examination of FSL Experts in these divisions.

4.  Eligibility to start Private Work :-

·      B.Sc Forensic

·      M.Sc Forensic

·      PG Diploma in Forensic

5.  How to Start Private work/Practice:-

·  You can start private practice as Forensic expert/consultant after completing course as stated above being Freelancer or by making firms or company under LLP act, Proprietor firm, ISO certified etc

·   Before coming into the private profession/practice, students must get practical training from the private institutions, under the supervision of any experienced private expert so that they could understand the legal and practical proceedings related to the Forensic Science being Expert Witness.

· After getting some experience as a Private practitioner or Court Commissioner (summoned witness), private practitioner can also guide and give training/internship to Fresher’s Forensic experts.

TEACHING SECTOR –

One can make career as an Assistant Professor, faculty in Universities of Forensic Science which offer Course in Forensic Science. 

Eligibility: - M. Sc. Forensic, Net, PhD

MEDICAL SECTOR –

This sector is related to Forensic Medicine department in which Medico legal report (MLC) or Autopsy report is submitted in the Court of Law by Forensic Medicine Expert. The main work of Forensic Medicine Expert is to perform postmortem and to prepare PM (Postmortem) report, to find out the cause of death and manner of death. This branch deals legal aspects related to death and injuries.

Eligibility: - MBBS + 3 years Specialization in MD

Jobs criteria – Government and Private Hospitals as Forensic Medicine doctor and as a Professor in Medical Colleges.