Forensics Digest was created not only for studying and exam preparation, but also to increase the awareness about forensic sciences and work towards the growth of this important sector.
In order to promote forensic science, we need to nurture the individuals who have jumped into this sector driven only by their passion and a goal to contribute to a better India.
Do you think enough is being done by our government to protect and nurture the growth of forensic science in India?
I don’t. And more than 1500 concerned individuals agree with me.
We have started a petition to ask the Government to resolve this injustice. Click here to sign it and spread the message
Most of us who are in this sector. We came here because we choose to. Forensic makes for a glamorous topic for movies and novels, but the reality is far from that.
And it is not just about solving murders, or drug crimes. Forensics is an inseparable part of safety in banking and internet, among other things.
It is an integral part of using science to provide a safe society and to deliver justice.
But right now, we need your help to deliver justice to this nascent sector in India.
Cruel Joke With Forensic Graduates In India
Did you know that those who have a degree in forensic science are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply in most of the forensic labs in India?
A student of B.Sc. Forensic Science is not even considered to be eligible to apply for a majority of such posts.(Not only that, Forensic Science is not even in UPSC list of subjects.)
Instead, students from a pure science backgrounds are given preference for these jobs; for example, in case of a post in forensic chemistry, they prefer someone with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and for Cyber Forensics, the requirement is always from a computer or IT background.
These recruits who have NO or very less knowledge of the sector and subject are then trained for the jobs in the first few months after their selection. Meanwhile, forensic students who are already trained and well versed in the domain are denied entry, often leaving them to look for jobs irrelevant to their subject area.
As a result, most forensic science graduates either end up unemployed or working in a completely different field. Ultimately ending up with their precious university degree along with their time, money and efforts all going down the drain.
What Needs To Be Done
It is high time for the concerned bodies such as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Directorate of Forensic Science Services to open their eyes.
Not only is there a huge dusty backlog of cases being piled up in FSLs. There is also a huge pile of qualified and trained but unemployed forensic science graduates that can actually make a difference in the functioning and delivery of services in the Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs – both at central and state levels) and eventually, in the justice system.
The Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS) should focus more on the needs of the forensic community and fulfill one of the major duties for which it was established.
Instead of ignoring the qualified forensic graduates for years, minimum it can do is to change the eligibility criteria for the posts in Central and State Forensic Laboratories and give forensic science students equal opportunity that they very much deserve, to showcase their knowledge.
This has been long-overdue and they need to take into account the plight of thousands of forensic students and take immediate measures to reform the system.
Again, we are not asking for any changes on the eligibility of non-forensic graduates. But Forensic Graduates MUST BE ALLOWED.
What You Can Do
Sometime back I had started a petition for this very cause. And it has now been signed by over 1100 concerned individuals.
If you think this is an important concern or if you/someone you know is looking to build a career in this field, I have two things to request from you.
- Sign the petition – It is available here.
- Share the petition with your friends and family through social media platforms, WhatsApp etc.
This should not take more than 2 minutes of your time.
Building a strong foundation for forensic science in India is key to strengthening our judiciary – both in terms of effectiveness and speed.
And it all starts with the quality of professionals we will have.
So sign-up and share. The whole forensic community is counting on you.
babita says
thanks for raising the voice