HIstory
 
State Forensic Science Laboratory, Himachal Pradesh was created on 13-12-1988 at Police Headquarters, Shimla. State FSL primarily caters to the needs of investigative agencies viz . Police, Vigilance, CID. Also, rendering service to the judiciary, universities, boards, banks, enquiry commissions and other Government Departments.Before State FSL came into existence , the said departments were dependent on central government institutions: Central Forensic Science Laboratories, Government Examiner of Questioned Documents and Serologist to the Government of India,Kolkatta. State FSL started functioning from barracks of Police complex Bharari, Shimla with two divisions namely biology & serology and chemistry & toxicology.

State FSL moved to Junga in 1996 and started functioning from the premises of Police Training School. Two more specialities viz. Documents & Photography and Physics & Ballistics were created in 1997 and became functional in the year 2000. In the year 2006, two more specialties viz. DNA and NDPS were created in State FSL, Junga. In order to ensure independent functioning of an investigating agency working on scientific principles, free from any undue pressure and favour from any corner, the State FSL was placed directly under Home & Vigilance department in the year 2005. To give a fillip to the investigation, speedy disposal of crime cases and in accordance with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommendations, two Regional FSLs with specialities of chemical, physical and biological sciences were created at Dharamshala & Mandi in 2006 as per topography of the state. The range labs have been housed in their new complexes constructed by incurring an expenditure of more than 2.25 crore approximately in each case. Further, for more administrative and financial autonomy the Director, State FSL was declared Head of the Department in the year 2009. Also, the State FSL and RFSLs are the approved centres for crime exhibits analysis of National Investigation Agency (NIA).
   
 
HIMACHAL PRADESH FORENSIC SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
 
The Government of Himachal Pradesh constituted Himachal Pradesh Forensic Science Development Board vide Notification No. Home (A)B(12)3/94 dated 09.12.2005 to augment forensics in Himachal Pradesh with specific terms of reference including implementation of National Human Rights Commission Core Group Report-1999 in a phased manner. The composition and terms of reference of H.P. Forensic Science Development Board is as under:
 
NOTIFICATION
 
The Governor, Himachal Pradesh, is pleased to constitute the Himachal Pradesh Forensic Science Development Board in the following manner in order to encourage the development and use of Forensic Science for investigation of crime in the state:-
 
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh Chairman
   
Chief Secretary to the Govt. of H.P. Vice-Chairman
   
Advocate General, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla Member
   
Addl. Chief Secretary/Pr.Secretary (Finance) to the
Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.		 Member
   
Pr. Secretary (Home) to the Govt. of H.P. Member
   
Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh Member
   
Director-cum—Chief Forensic Scientist, Directorate of
Forensic Science, MHA, GOI, New Delhi or Regional
Forensic Science Lab. Chandigarh.		 Member
   
Director, Vigilance, Himachal Pradesh. Member
   
Director, Prosecution Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. Member
   
Director, State Forensic Science Lab. H.P. Member
   
Secretary Addl. Director General (APT), H.P. Shimla. Member
   
Professor & Head, Deptt. Of Forensic Medicine,
IGMC, Shimla.		 Member
 
The Vice Chairman shall preside over meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chairman. The Board may co-opt experts for any meeting of the Board. TA/DA of members and experts, if any, shall be borne by parent organization. The Board will be serviced from the Forensic Science Lab. Junga.

The Board shall meet quarterly to monitor the development proper functioning and progress of the Forensic Science set-up in Himachal Pradesh and shall approve a five year Perspective Plan as well as Annual Plans of Action for induction of Forensics into investigation and prosecution.
 
Terms of Reference:
 
The terms of reference of the Board shall be as under:-
 
To lay down the basic policies in application of Forensic Science to crime investigation and to ensure progressive development of Forensic Science services in the State in a time bound manner.

2. To oversee implementation of the recommendations contained in the National Human Rights Commission Core Group Report-1999, Plan for modernization of Forensic Science set-up in Himachal Pradesh 2000 and the two member committee report on Forensic Science submitted by Dr. M. S. Rao, Director-cum-Chief Forensic Scientist, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi on 31.3.2000 to Home Department in a phased manner.

3. To ensure autonomy, transparency, impartiality and credibility of the Forensic Science reports in the State and that of the Forensic Science institutions.

4. To identify needs for creation of different specialties/facilities in Forensic Science set-up in the State and providing facilities for the same. This will include creation of Regional Forensic Science Laboratories with mobile units at Range headquarters in Himachal Pradesh for providing quick response Forensic Science at the scene of crime.

5. To ensure that forensic inputs are effectively utilized in investigation and prosecution and to lay down training and communications policies for the purpose.

6. To analyze important cases of investigation/prosecution failure to identify additional forensic inputs that may be necessary to raise the success rate of conviction.

7. To approve the Annual Report of the Forensic Science Lab. and its contribution to investigation and successful Prosecution.
 
BY ORDER
Chief Secretary to the
Government of Himachal Pradesh
 
Schedule of meeting of HP Forensic Science Development Board Vide notification No. Home-C- (A)4-1/2006-II dated 23.09.2010, was changed and fixed half yearly instead of quarterly meeting. There has been seven meetings of H.P. Forensic Science Development Board. On an average one meeting is held per annum. The last meeting of HP Forensic Science Development Board was chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal on 04.07.2012. There have been accomplishment of the tasks assigned in the proceedings of H.P. Forensic Science Development Board and the remaining are being pursued.
 
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