DailyPost 2827
THERE IS FORENSICS IN EVERYTHING
In the fast changing digital world, the new truism is that there is forensics in everything. Science need not be an adjunct to one particular activity as forensic science has been to police investigation. As science it can provide yeomen service to the world, in areas unconnected to investigation; the criminal law way. It has the capability to add a preventive component to it, which can add to its utility manifold. Newer areas and approaches are getting with the cyber and digital forensics and also tech being able to throw light and find meaning in different ways, that was traditionally not being looked at, in the well established forensics areas.
The recent approval to the national forensic infra enhancement scheme by the Union Cabinet at a cost of Rs.2,254 can be revolutionary, if executed the right way. It should get enmeshed into the criminal justice system with this template and usher in an age of scientific and irrefutable evidence based investigation, with very little chances of it falling flat in the long and arduous journey of judicial trial. The investigators’ comfort with this state of art utility and capability to use it both in the traditional way and also use it in the most innovative manner, will decide its real fate.New campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University and Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory would lead the way.
The lowest hanging fruit of this exercise would be drastically cut down the time required to get a FSL report. The ideal would be that it should be brought down to only the time required to do the testing & preparing the report, there should not be any waiting time. One element of justice delayed is justice denied, would be nearly eliminated. Though humongous, yet it covers criminal investigation only. By forensics being in everything we mean that with data being at the core of our modern day operations, all intelligence and evidence would come out of it. Evidence cannot be limited to the purpose of criminal investigation, it can be used for a variety of other things. Think of digital forensics being used either for the NEET 2024 scandal or maybe for electoral bonds too.
From the public domain point of view, it will serve our right to information as nothing else can. 98% of our transactions are digital today. Fast forward to a totally different world, the world of audit. It remains a manual game today also. Forensic audit now is providing teeth in cases, where it is specifically put into service, the conventional audit having failed miserably. Auditors have given clean chit to companies with scams in their underbellies. Forensic audit provides an answer to most of the ills in a very focused and conclusive manner; fraudulent accounting practices, fudging of records, bogus transactions etc. As we move further collaboration with digital forensics is a necessity and not a choice. Preventive forensics is our future, a proactive tool, which the domain expert can use in the most potent way.
FORENSIC SCIENCE IN ITS DIGITAL AVATAR CAN BE TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.