ROLE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN INDIA

The growing complexity of crime in modern India has needed a gradual transition in the techniques used for investigations and legal proceedings within the criminal justice framework. The traditional evidence types such as oral testimony and confessions are increasingly viewed with skepticism. As they have been criticized long enough for their vulnerability to coercion, memory inaccuracies, and investigative bias. In this setting, forensic science has become an essential instrument, offering the promise of objectivity, precision, and scientific validity in criminal cases. This paper explores the significance of forensic science in India's criminal justice system, tracing its historical development, legal oversight, judicial interpretation, and operational practices. It assesses the admissibility and evidentiary weight of forensic and scientific evidence under Indian law, particularly highlighting the shift from the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 to the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam of 2023. By examining landmark judicial rulings, the functioning of forensic laboratories, and current issues such as insufficient infrastructure, delays, and lack of standardization, the paper posits that forensic science in India tends to act more as supplementary evidence than as decisive proof. Although recent legislative amendments aim to update evidentiary laws by recognizing electronic and digital forensic evidence, the paper argues that, without simultaneous improvements in institutional capacity, accreditation processes, and judicial training, the transformative potential of forensic science will not be fully realized. The study concludes with recommendations for legal and policy reforms intended to improve the reliability, accessibility, and equity of forensic science in India's criminal justice administration.