Course Outline Forensic Science Batch 2013

Semester: V Course: Forensic Science Faculty: Ms. H. Goswami & Dr. T. Mathew

Gujarat National Law UniversityGandhinagar, Gujarat (India)

Course Outline

of

Forensic Science

For

B.Sc., LL.B.(Hons.)

Semester: VI (Batch:2012-2017)

Faculty:Ms. Heena Goswami

Assistant Professor of Science & TechnologyE-mail: [email protected]

Mob.: +918128650831

Dr. Thomas MathewRegistrar In-Charge & Associate Professor of

Page 1 of 13

Session: January-May 2015


Science & TechnologyE-mail: [email protected]

Mob.: +918128650887

Sl. No.

Contents Page No.

1.0 Objectives of the course 03

2.0 Proposed teaching schedule 04

3.0 Detailed course-outline 05

4.0 Prescribed/Recommended readings 09

5.0 Teaching methodology 09

6.0 Evaluation pattern 10

7.0Tentative dates for test/submission of project/GD, etc

10

8.0 Important instructions to students 10

9.0 Contact hours 11

Page 2 of 13


1.0 Objectives of the Course

Forensic Science and Law includes providing of accurate, timely, and thorough

information to all levels of decision makers in our criminal justice system. Forensic science is a multidisciplinary subject used for probing crime scenes and

gathering evidence to be used in prosecution of offenders in a court of law. Forensic scientists examine objects, substances (including blood or drug

samples), chemicals (paints, explosives, toxins), tissue traces (hair, skin), or impressions (fingerprints or tidemarks) left at the crime scene.

Forensics or forensic science is the application of science to questions which are of interest to the legal system.

Criminalistics is the application of various sciences to answer questions relating to examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence, drugs and firearms.

Forensic and applied Sciences today makes an important contribution to the operation of the Criminal Justice System providing evidence which could detect and help decide the guilt of a suspect.

Forensic Science is able to do so because it has developed to operate within the reality determined by the Criminal Justice System.

Make significant and inventive curricula with a emphasis on compelling and proficient direction.

Advance and spread scientific and investigative scholarly and expert research. Providing measurable mentorship and master seeing to national and universal

courts.

Page 3 of 13


2.0 Proposed Teaching Schedule

Module No.

ModulesNo. of

Sessions (Classes)

V.6.1 Introduction to Forensic Science and Forensic Evidences

05

V.6.2 Evidentiary value of Fingerprinting & Other Impressions

08

V.6.3 Death, Postmortem Changes, Injuries and Toxicology

10

V.6.4 Explosive substance 04

V.6.5 Questioned Document Examination 07

V.6.6 Forensic Psychology 06

V.6.7 Forensic Ballistics 06

V.6.8 Forensic Biology 05

V.6.9 Motor Vehicle Crimes and investigation

04

Practicals 06

Page 4 of 13

Semester: V Course: Forensic Science Faculty: Ms. H. Goswami & Dr. T. Mathew Tot

al = ___61_____

3.0 Detailed Course Outline

Forensic Science Module- V.6.1 Sessions: 05

Introduction to Forensic Science and Forensic Evidences

o Introduction to Forensic Science; education of Forensic Science, role of Media; Human Rights & Criminal Justice System.

o Crime- and its types (robbery, suicide, homicide, drowning explosives, arson).

oCrime scene- and management; Criminal behaviour.oModus operandi; Criminal profiling; Corpus delicti.oRole of Forensic scientists and Medico legal doctors; Expert Testimony.oSignificance of Forensic Science; Central and State forensic laboratories

in India.oCriminalistics vs. Criminology.

Module- V.6.2 Sessions: 08

Evidentiary value of Fingerprinting & Other Impressions

o Fingerprints: History and development of Fingerprints as science for Personal Identification; Type of Finger Prints, Classification of Finger Prints, Latent Finger Print; Causes of Formation of Scene of Crime Finger Prints; Comparison of Finger Prints; Ridge details; Palm and Sole prints identification.Presentation of Expert Evidence: Data, Reports, Evidence in the Court.

Page 5 of 13


Automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS).o Footprints: Importance, Gait pattern analysis, Evaluation and analysis

of various casts. Electrostatic lifting of latent footprints and comparison with reference sample. .

o Tool marks: Introduction, nature, location, collection and comparison of tool marks.

o Mechanical fits: Introduction and types of mechanical fits. Forensic significance of various impression marks and its accountability in criminal investigation.

Case

Sapan Haldar & Anr. vs The State on 11 August, 2011, High

Court of Delhi.


Death, Postmortem Changes, Injuries and Toxicology

o Definition of death: Death, changes after death, putrefaction and disposal dead bodies.

o Injuries: Legal aspects of injuries; Mechanical injuries; Thermal injuries; Injuries due to electricity; Lightening and radiation; Regional injuries; Medico legal aspects of injuries and asphxial deaths.

o Diagnosis of poisoning in living and dead, PM findings.o Corrosive agents, Irritants, Animal Poisons, Plant Poisons: Nature,

type, mode of action. o Identification of: Neurotic poisons, spinal poisons, cerebral poisons,

cardiac poisons, anaesthetic agents, asphxiants, food poisons, drug dependency abuse and miscellaneous Poisons.

Case Rajiv Thapar & Ors vs Madan Lal Kapoor, 23 January, 2013,

analysed by Supreme Court of India.


Explosive substance

o The classification of explosive substance.o The composition and characteristics of explosive substance.o Commonly used explosive devices explosion process and affects, types of

hazard, effect of blast wave on structures, human etc. Page 6 of 13


o Crime scene management in explosive cases.o Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and punishments.

Case Mohd. Hussain @ Julfikar Ali vs The State (Govt. Of Nct) Delhi,

11 January, 2012 High Court of Delhi.


Questioned Document Examination

o Document in general: Importance, Classification and Preliminary Examination.

o Handwriting Characteristics: General Characteristics, Individual Characteristics and Class characteristics, Development of Individuality in Handwriting.

o Forgery: Definitions, types and characteristics.o Brief introduction of Comparison of Handwriting: Natural

Variations, Fundamental Divergences, Standards for Comparison.o Indented and Invisible Writings.o Alterations in the document: erasures, additions.o Overwriting and obliterations. o Advanced methods of examination of alterations as Projectina/video-

spectral comparator (VSC) and ESDA, their working principles and uses.o Photography for Documents: Basic principles and techniques;

Exposing; Developing and Printing. o Modern Developments in Photography; Digital Photography;

Videography/High speed videography; Crime scene and Laboratory photography.

Case Dinesh Kumar Sharma vs The State Of Bihar Through C.B, 22

October, 2014, High Court of Patna.


Forensic Psychology

o Introduction, difference between psychology and psychiatry, importance and the role in justice delivery system. Body signs and psychosomatic subtle changes.

Page 7 of 13


o Classes of forensic psychology: Clinical, Experimental, Statistical, Psychotherapy, Consultancy.

o Collection of Evidence: Case history studies, Covert and overt observations, Interviews and interrogations, Experimentation and Research.

o Types of Questioning: Relevant-Irrelevant Question Technique (RIQ), Peak of Tension Technique (POT) and Controlled Question Technique.

o Operational environment of Questioning: The Examiner, The Subject, Interrogation Room and Subject's Rights.

o Psycho-Physiological Detection of Deception (PDD), Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE), Hypnosis, Truth Serum and Brain Printing.

Case Mohinder Singh Pandher vs C.B.I. S.P.E., State Of U.P., 14

December, 2007 (also Nithari serial murders, Nithari Kand).


Forensic Ballistics

o Firearms: Early history of firearms, the earliest firearms, the fifteenth century Match lock; Sixteenth & seventeenth century small arms; The age of the flint lock; The percussion lock firearms.

o Classification, characteristics and firing mechanism of smooth bored firearms (M.L., B.L.) Rifled firearms (Pistol, Revolver, Rifles and Machine Guns).

o Classification, nomenclature and construction of country made firearms.o Ammunition: Types, Cartridge Components (Cartridge case primer

propellant, Bullets, Pellets and wads).o Internal Ballistics, External Ballistics and Terminal Ballistics.o Gun Shot Residues (GSR): Mechanism of formation of GSR, modern

methods of analysis of GSR from the shooting hand & target with special reference to clothing.

o Firearm injuries: Ballistic aspect of firearm injuries, nature, effect of target, velocity, constructional features and range on the wounding, identification of firearm injuries, evaluation of firearm injuries.

o Reconstruction: Accident, suicide, murder and self defence.

Case

Page 8 of 13


Sushil Sharma vs State (Nct) Of Delhi, 8 October, 2013, analysed by Supreme Court of India.


Forensic Biology

o Bloodstain pattern analysis: morphology and types of hair and fibres- their importance. Forensic significance of body fluids and DNA profiling.

o Forensic Anthropology: Nature and formation of bones, study of Human skeleton; Identification of bones.

o Wildlife Forensic: Identification of wild life materials such as skin, fur bones, nails, horn and teeth by-conventional and modern methods, identification of pug marks of various animals.

o Forensic Botany: Identification of Botanical evidence as Pollen grains, wood, leaves and seeds. Diatoms – habitat, diatoms as forensic evidence.

o Forensic Entomology: Insects of forensic importance and time since death.

Case The State of Gujarat vs Jayantibhai Somabhai, 30 April, 2015,

High Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad.


Motor Vehicle Crimes and investigation

o Road Accidents: Examination of scene, victim and the vehicle, collection of the evidence, filaments examination, examination of skid marks, head light bulb filaments.

o Drunken driving: Consequences of drunken driving, Breath analysis.o Theft of Vehicle, vehicle involved in terrorism and investigation.o Analytical technique for the analysis of evidence involved in hit and run

cases, restoration of erased serial numbers and engraved marks.o Vehicular Accident Reconstruction: Introduction, analytical tools

used, converting scene data into an event sequence, accident analysis; post-crash movements, collision model and accident reconstruction calculations, skid marks and evaluation of speed.

Practicals Sessions: 06

Page 9 of 13


o Evaluation of Crime scene, documentation, recording and reconstruction.

o To identify the correct fingerprint patterns and classify the fingerprints from Primary classification to key classification.

o Identification of handwriting general characteristics, study of natural variations in handwriting, study of fundamental divergences and an identification of individual characteristics.

o Examination of hair of different animals as cat, dog, cow, horse and goat.

o Identification of body fluids.o Examination of skid marks and tyre marks.

4.0 Prescribed/Recommended Readings

Prescribed Readings

1. B. R. Sharma, Forensic science in criminal investigation, (Universal Law publishing co. Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, 2005).

2. B.R. Sharma, Forensic science in criminal investigation and trials, (Universal Law publishing co. Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, 2003).

3. Apurba Nandy, Principles of forensic medicine including toxicology, (New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd., London, 2010).

4. Nageshkumar G Rao, Textbook of forensic medicine & toxicology, (Jaypee Brothers Medical publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, 2010).

5. S.H.James and J.J. Nordby, Forensic Science: An introduction to scientific and investigative techniques, (CRC Press, USA, 2003).

6. R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, (Prentice Hall, New York, 1990).

7. J.S. Kelly and B.S. Lindblom, Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents, (Taylor & Francis, New York, 2006).

Page 10 of 13


8. S.N. Gaur, Firearms and forensic ballistics, (Delhi law house, Delhi, 2007).

9. N.E. Genge, Forensic casebook: science of crime scene investigation, (Ebury press , London, 2003).

Recommended Readings

1. David R. Ashbaugh, Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis: An Introduction to Basic and Advanced Ridgeology, (CRC Press, 1999).

2. Asha Srivastava, Encyclopedia of criminology and forensic science (Vol.1, Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi , 2008).

3. Ashok Kumar, Encyclopedia of forensic science, (Vol. I, Discovery publishing house, New Delhi, 2009).

4. Tom Warlow, Firearms, the law, and forensic ballistics, (CRC Press, Boca Raton , 2004).

5. Bruce A. Arrigo, Introduction to Forensic Psychology,(Academic Press, London, 2000).

6. William J. Bodziak, Footwear Impression Evidence, (Elsevier Science Publishing Co., New York, 1989).

7. Richard Li, Forensic Biology, (CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, New York, 2008).

8. Alan Gunn, Essential Forensic Biology, (2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2009).

9. William Goodwin, Adrian Linacre and Sibte Hadi, An Introduction To Forensic Genetics, (John Wiley & Sons Ltd.,England, 2007).

10. J. Levinson, Questioned Documents, (Academic Press, Page 11 of 13


Tokyo, 2000).

5.0 Teaching Methodology

Using power point presentation. Forensic Experts advisories and Opinions. Presentation and Group discussion by students. Imitation of Crime Scene- Investigation and reconstruction.

6.0 Evaluation Pattern

Evaluation: Marks Continuous Evaluation (Mid-term exam + Project/test+ Field visit)

20 +15+5=40End-Semester Examination (Theory + Practicals)

40 +20=60Total 100

7.0 Tentative Dates for Continuous Evaluation Tests/ Submission of Project/ GD, etc

Mid-term exam- 18 to 25 August, 2015.Continuous evaluation – 21 September, 2015.Field Visit to Forensic Science Laboratory- 3rd Week of August, 2015.

8.0 Important Instructions to Students

The given course-outline is tentative. The faculty-member may modify it while preparing the reference material and engaging the classes.

The teaching methodology of the subject will not necessarily be bound by the parameters shown here.

Both faculty-member and students may mould it according to needs as and when they arise for better and progressive

Page 12 of 13


understanding of the subject in a flexible way. Recommended readings shall be referred to enhance the

knowledge of the subject thoroughly.

9.0 Contact Hours

Days: Monday and TuesdayTimings: 03:00 to 04:00 pm

Page 13 of 13