Shimla: A high-level team from the Education and Research Network (ERNET), India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), visited the Directorate of Forensic Services, Junga to gain in-depth insights into the forensic capabilities, technical expertise, and operational framework of the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL), which has been NABL accredited since 2018.
The delegation conducted a comprehensive review of the laboratory’s infrastructure and quality standards across all 10 functional divisions of SFSL. The team expressed appreciation for the dedication and expertise demonstrated by the forensic professionals and the laboratory’s alignment with national and international forensic protocols.
The interaction emphasized the increasing relevance of digital and cyber forensics in the face of evolving technological threats and the need for robust, science-based evidence in the criminal justice system.
The visiting team acknowledged the SFSL’s commitment to maintaining high standards of scientific rigor, reliability, and legal admissibility in forensic reporting. Their visit reaffirmed Himachal Pradesh’s preparedness in leveraging forensic science for efficient and transparent investigative processes.
The Junga lab Himachal houses a dedicated Digital Forensic Division, one of the ten specialized Divisions,units at FSL, which functions as the state’s premier center for the scientific examination of electronic evidence.
Operating under the Directorate of Forensic Services, Himachal Pradesh, the division plays a crucial role in addressing the escalating challenge of cybercrime by employing advanced forensic tools and internationally recognized methodologies to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and legal admissibility of digital evidence.
The division’s core functions include the retrieval, preservation, and analysis of data from a wide spectrum of digital sources such as computers, mobile phones, storage media, network systems, and online platforms.
It provides critical expertise in the investigation of diverse cybercrimes, including online fraud, identity theft, cyber harassment, financial scams, phishing, and cases involving malware.
Dr. Meenakshi Mahajan, Director, Directorate of Forensics Services, Himachal Pradesh, said that the Digital Forensic Division work in close coordination with police and other law enforcement agencies, the division delivers expert reports and technical opinions that strengthen cybercrime investigations and prosecutions.
Through the scientific validation and interpretation of digital trails, it assists in tracing perpetrators, uncovering concealed or deleted information, and presenting credible digital evidence. In doing so, the Digital Forensic Division not only enhances the investigative capacity of the state but also contributes significantly to ensuring justice in the increasingly complex landscape of cyber-enabled crime.
The Digital Forensic Division of the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Himachal Pradesh, has successfully cleared two stages of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation and is presently in the final stage of securing accreditation for the examination of electronic evidence under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
NABL accreditation is a formal recognition of a laboratory’s technical competence and adherence to internationally accepted quality standards. For digital forensics, this accreditation is of critical importance, as it ensures that the processes of data retrieval, preservation, and analysis are carried out with scientific rigor and reliability.
Accreditation under Section 79 of the IT Act further strengthens the legal admissibility of electronic evidence in courts. It assures the judiciary and law enforcement agencies that the digital evidence produced has been examined using validated methodologies in a technically competent environment, minimizing the risk of challenges during trial.
By moving towards full NABL accreditation, the Digital Forensic Division not only enhances its credibility and scientific standing but also plays a decisive role in reinforcing the evidentiary value of digital forensics in the administration of justice, particularly in the growing domain of cybercrime investigations.