NALSAR UNIVERSITY OF LAW
Academic Year: 2025-26 (Odd Semester)
COURSE OUTLINE
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES - B.A., LL.B (Hons)
PO1: Champion the cause of social justice through meaningful engagement with stakeholders.
PO2: Articulate legal opinions, draft legal texts and present arguments grounded in sound legal
reasoning.
PO3: Contribute to academic scholarship through factual investigation and critical appraisal of
laws and theories including their application in various social-legal contexts.
PO4: Predict and mitigate problems and engage in dispute resolution by adopting context
appropriate inclusive methods.
PO5: Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct in engagement with various stakeholders
SECTION A: COURSE DETAILS
Forensic Science
Course Title: Participants: LLB/LLM
and Criminal Law
Course Type: Seminar Faculty Name(s): Dr. Abhishek Sharma P
Course The rapidly developing discipline of forensic science and its crucial significance in
Outline: the Indian judicial system are introduced to law students in this course.
Future lawyers must comprehend how forensic methods influence the
investigation, decision-making, and settlement of legal disputes since scientific
evidence is becoming more and more important in court procedures. The
course delves into important forensic fields and discusses their applications
within the context of Indian law, including toxicology, cyber forensics, fingerprint
analysis, DNA profiling, and crime scene reconstruction. It offers a critical
analysis of the Criminal and constitutional safeguards pertaining to forensic
techniques.
Students will analyze the reliability and validity of forensic evidence, the function
and boundaries of expert witnesses, and the ways in which courts handle
scientific evidence through the lens of seminal Indian case studies. In addition,
the course places an emphasis on ethical and human rights problems within the
framework of forensic inquiry. These concerns include such topics as narco-
analysis, privacy, and torture while in custody.
By honing their analytical and presentational abilities, this course equips future
lawyers to communicate clearly and persuasively with forensic specialists,
evaluate forensic reports critically, and present their cases with a scientific
1
perspective. This course helps students build bridges between the scientific
community and the legal system so that future judges, attorneys, and lawmakers
may use evidence-based reasoning to advance social justice.
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to
Understand and explain the fundamental principles and techniques of
CO1: forensic science and their relevance to criminal investigation and legal
processes.
Analyze the role and admissibility of forensic evidence in courts,
CO2:
Course including procedures for collection, preservation, and expert testimony.
Outcomes: Critically examine legal frameworks governing forensic practices in India
CO3:
and internationally, including human rights and ethical considerations.
Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to evaluate real-life case studies
CO4:
involving forensic evidence in civil, criminal, and medico-legal contexts.
Develop skills for collaboration between legal professionals and forensic
CO5:
experts to ensure justice through scientific and lawful means.
2
SECTION B: MODULE DETAILS AND LECTURE PLAN
Module 1 Introduction to Forensic Science and Law
Module Upon completion of the module, students should be able to understand and explain
Outcome the fundamental principles and techniques of forensic science and their relevance
(MO1) to criminal investigation and legal processes
Ho
Topics Reference Material
urs
Definition,
scope, and
branches of
forensic
science
History and
development
1 of forensic 4 Jim Fraser - FORENSIC SCIENCE A Very Short Introduction
science in
India
Importance of
forensic
science in the
criminal
justice system
Overview of
forensic
institutions in
India (CFSL,
FSL, GEQD,
2 4 Jim Fraser - FORENSIC SCIENCE A Very Short Introduction
NIA Labs)
Crime scene
classification
and
management
Evidence
identification,
collection, Standard Operating Procedure for Crime Scene Investigation-
packaging, Directorate of Forensic Science Services Ministry of Home Affairs,
and labeling Govt of India
3 Chain of 3
custody: Legal Link :
implications http://164.100.117.138/pdfs/crime%20scene%20manual%20full_orga
and nized.pdf
documentatio
n standards
3
Standard Operating Procedure for Crime Scene Investigation-
Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Role of Crime Govt of India
4 Scene 2
Officers Link :
http://164.100.117.138/pdfs/crime%20scene%20manual%20full_orga
nized.pdf
Forms of Forensic Evidence
Module 2
Module Outcome Upon completion of the module, students should be able understand and
(MO2) explain the various forms of Forensic Evidence
Topics Hours Reference Material
Blood Group Analysis,
Fingerprinting.
DNA Profiling Terrence F. Kiely - Forensic Evidence:
1 4
Collection of DNA Samples from Science and Criminal Law
Blood, semen, hair, and tissue
analysis
Forensic toxicology: Detection of
poisons and narcotics
Terrence F. Kiely - Forensic Evidence:
2 4
Science and Criminal Law
Post-mortem analysis and cause of
death determination
Ballistics:
Terrence F. Kiely - Forensic Evidence:
3 3
Firearms identification, bullet Science and Criminal Law
trajectory, gunshot residue
Handwriting and signature analysis, Terrence F. Kiely - Forensic Evidence:
4 2
questioned documents Science and Criminal Law
Evidentiary Standards and Judicial Dictum of Forensic Evidence
Module 3
Upon completion of the module, students should be able to Analyze the
role and admissibility of forensic evidence in courts, including procedures
Module Outcome
for collection, preservation, and expert testimony and Critically examine
(MO3)
legal frameworks governing forensic practices in India and internationally,
including human rights and ethical considerations.
Topics Hours Reference Material
4
Relevance of forensic evidence Sections 51, 52, 193, 329 of the the
under the Indian Criminal Laws Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,
2023 (BNSS)
1 4
Admissibility and Relevancy of
Forensic Evidence in Criminal Trial Section 39 (1) of the Bharatiya Sakshya
Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA)
Edmond and Martire, Just Cognition:
Scientific Research on Bias and Some
Implications for Legal Procedure and
Decision-
Making 82 Modern Law Review 25
Role and responsibilities of a
(2019).
forensic expert in court
Gravett, The Myth of Rationality:
Cognitive Biases and Heuristics in
2 Challenges to expert testimony: 4
Judicial Decision-Making 134 The
Bias, credibility, and conflict of
South African Law
interest
Journal 53 (2017).
Murrie, D. C., Boccaccini, M.T.,
Guarnera, L. A., Rufino, K. A, Are
Forensic Experts Biased by the Side
that Retained Them?
24 Psychological Science 1889 (2013).
Frye v. United
States- 293 F. 1013, 1014 (D.C. Cir.
1923)
Daubert v. Merrell
Dow Pharmaceuticals- 509 US 579,
113 S.Ct. 2786 (1993)
Daubert standard vs. Frye standard
3 (comparative jurisprudence 2
Federal Rules of Evidence- Rules 401,
402, 403 and 702.
People v. Castro- 545 N.Y.S. 2d 985
Sup Ct. 1989
Schwartz v. State- 447 N.W. 2d 422
(1989)
4 Role of the Indian Judiciary in 3 Patangi Balarama Venkata Ganesh v.
assessing Forensic Evidence State of A.P - 2003 Cri LJ 4508
Goutam Kundu v. State of
West Bengal- (1993) 3 SCC 418 at
428.
5
Thogorani Alias K. Damayanti v. State
of Orissa- 2004 Cri LJ 4003
Sadashiv Mallikarjun Kheradkar v. Smt.
Nandini Sadashiv Kheradkar - 1995 Cri
LJ 4090.
Bhabani Prasad Jena v. Convener
Secretary, Orissa State Commission for
Women - AIR 2010 SC 2851 at 2857-
58
P.V. Valsan s/o Kannan Nambiar v.
Station House Officer- Crl. Misc.
No.1629/2008
Selvi v. State of Karnataka - AIR 2010
SC 1974.
Constitutional and Contemporary Challenges for appreciation of Forensic
Module 4 Evidence
Upon completion of the module, students should be able to identify the
Module Outcome
constitutional and contemporary challenges involved in using Forensic Evidence
(MO4)
in Courts
Topics Hours Reference Material
Mark A Rothstein and K Talbott Meagher, The
Expanding Use of DNA in Law Enforcement:
What Role for
Right to Privacy vs. Need for
Privacy? 34(2) B.U. J. SCI. TECH. L. 153, 159
Forensic data (Finger Print and DNA
(2006)
databases)
1 5
Yale H Yee, Criminal DNA Data Banks:
Self Incrimination and Forensic
Revolution For Law Enforcement or Threat to
Evidence
Individual
Privacy?’ 22 HARV. J.L. & TECH 461, 480.
(1995)
2 Wrongful Convictions and 5 National Institute of Justice, The Impact of
exonerations False or Misleading Forensic Evidence on
Wrongful Convictions, November 28, 2023,
Familial DNA Searching nij.ojp.gov:
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/impact-false-
6
or-misleading-forensic-evidence-wrongful-
convictions
Sonia M Suter, All in the Family: Privacy and
DNA Familial Searching 23(2) SYRACUSE
SCI. & TECH. L. REP.
310, 349. (Spring 2010)
Mnookin, J. L. (2008)
The Courts, the NAS, and the Future of
Forensic Science
Brooklyn Law Review, 75(4)
Impact of technology and AI in
3 3
forensic investigations
7
SECTION C: OUTCOME MAPPING
PO-CO MATRIX:
PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5
CO1 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO3 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO4 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO5 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO-MO MATRIX:
MO1 MO2 MO3 MO4
CO1 Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO2 Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO3 Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO4 Yes Yes Yes Yes
CO5 Yes Yes Yes Yes
8
SECTION D: ASSESSMENT
Pattern and CO Mapping
Type Description CO Mapping Marks
Mid CO1/ CO2/ CO3/
25
Semester CO4/ CO5
CO1/ CO2/ CO3/
Project 25
CO4/ CO5
End CO1/ CO2/ CO3/
50
Semester CO4/ CO5
Total 100
