Jalandhar: Forensic science, an attractive and promising career option for young people

Jalandhar: Forensic science, which is closely linked to the law, has emerged as one of the most promising and rewarding career options for today’s youth. Advocate Arvind Sood, a renowned forensic and fingerprint expert consultant, stated this during an exclusive interview, sharing his vast experience and understanding of the growing importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system. Advocate Sood said that when he joined the MSc, Forensic Science, postgraduate course in 1975, the term forensics was largely unknown. However, with the gradual use of forensic techniques in criminal investigations, newspapers began highlighting forensic evidence in major cases. Later, television and the media further popularized the subject through crime thrillers and serials based on fixed cases, in which forensic science played a significant role. According to him, the changing nature of crime has significantly increased the importance of forensic science.

He said, “With the rise in cases of forged documents, denial of signatures, and disputed thumbprints, courts have become increasingly in need of expert opinion from government and private forensic experts.” This increase in forgery cases has increased the demand for trained professionals, especially in document examination and fingerprint analysis. Sood explained that forensic science is a vast field with several specialized branches. These include ballistics, which deals with crimes involving weapons such as pistols, revolvers, and guns; forensic biology and serology; forensic toxicology; forensic chemistry and physics; and fingerprint science. Each branch provides vital evidence that helps investigators solve crimes from different angles. He further explained that state and central governments have established forensic science labs with specialized departments for these subjects. These labs also perform advanced techniques such as voice analysis, DNA testing for paternity and maternity disputes, brain mapping, narco-analysis, and lie-detection tests. He also spoke about the launch of mobile forensic labs, which can be taken directly to crime scenes. These mobile units help forensic scientists quickly collect sensitive evidence, maintaining its integrity for subsequent scientific examination in the lab.

Sharing his personal journey, Sood said that he has been in the field for nearly 46 years and has handled numerous cases involving advanced methods of forgery and document manipulation. Due to his vast experience, he also works as a visiting lecturer at the Police Training Center in Phillaur, imparting practical knowledge to police officers and judicial officer trainees. Describing forensic science as one of the most exciting professions today, he emphasized that it offers vast job opportunities in government forensic labs, investigative agencies, and private forensic consultants. A variety of academic courses in forensic science, including BSc, postgraduate, and diploma programs, are now available across the country. Renowned institutions offering forensic science education include Punjabi University, Patiala, which started the course in 1974, Punjab University, Lovely Professional University, and several other universities and colleges in the region. To meet the growing demand for qualified forensic professionals, many institutions across India are offering similar programs.