The Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS), a flagship initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, organized a two-day international conference on the theme “Role of Forensics and Cyber Security for Enabling Justice under New Criminal Laws.” Held on the 26th and 27th of November 2024, this conference commemorated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. The event brought together distinguished experts, practitioners, scholars, and the future generation, to share their insights on cutting-edge forensic techniques, cybersecurity protocols, and their practical application in the legal system.
The conference formally began with a welcome note from Dr. GK Goswami, IPS and Founding Director of UPSIFS. In his address, Dr. Goswami emphasised that the significance of the conference, noting that law enforcement agencies and forensic practitioners across India are currently adapting to the new criminal justice framework. He highlighted that the recent overhaul of the criminal legal framework necessitates a deep understanding of how these technical domains can effectively support and enhance the delivery of justice in our rapidly evolving digital landscape. He also mentioned that the focus of UPSIFS will be on bridging the gap between traditional forensic methodologies and emerging digital investigation techniques, ensuring that justice delivery mechanisms remain robust and relevant in the face of increasingly sophisticated criminal activities.
Dr. Goswami emphasized that, in alignment with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy, the institute will provide specialized training in forensic science. Drawing inspiration from India’s success in the field of ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS), he expressed the goal of positioning India as a leader in ‘Forensic as a Service’ (FaaS).
He further highlighted an innovative initiative at the institute called “Law with Labs”, which integrates practical forensic science training with law courses. This program will help law students, including future judges, public prosecutors, and defence advocates, gain hands-on experience in forensic science laboratories, enabling them to better interpret evidence and, in turn, enhance the quality of justice in India.
“The time ahead is of FaaS, for which we have to contribute wholeheartedly” -Dr. G.K. Goswami
Addressing the audience, Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh added that this institute was not only completed in record time, but it has successfully entered its second academic session of 2024-25. He congratulated the institute, the director and the administration for successfully conducting the first academic session. He stated that improvement in the judicial system is possible only through compilation of scientific evidence through qualitative investigation of crimes, for which, this institute will prove to be a milestone.
Dr. Goswami honoured several distinguished guests, including Mr. Rajeshwar Singh, MLA for Sarojini Nagar, Mr. Deepak Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, UP, Mr. Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General of Police, Mr. B.K. Singh, ADG of Cyber Crime Department, UP Police, Mr. Naveen Arora, IPS, Mr. Amrendra Singh Sengar, Police Commissioner, Lucknow, Dr. N. Ravinder, ADG, General Staff Officer, UP and other senior officers, by presenting them with mementos.
Additionally, Mr. Deepak Kumar, Mr. Prashant Kumar, Director General of UP Police, along with other officers, distributed certificates to the students and took a tour of the institute’s exhibition and campus.
In the various sessions of the first day of the conference, many subject experts from India and abroad delivered enlightening lectures to the students on diverse topics, including Locating Forensic Justice in New Criminal Laws, Enabling Humanity in the Era of Technologies, Cyber Defence Capacity Building, Law with Labs, Decoding Cryptocurrency Fraud and Investigation, and much more.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the auditorium, e-library, flag of the institute and Abhyudaya magazine. He also distributed certificates to the students of PG Diploma passed in the first session. The Chief Minister administered the oath of Constitution Day at the end of the programme.
After the inauguration, the Chief Minister addressed the gathering in his concluding address.
He stated that the first condition of good governance is the rule of law, and for the rule of law, it is essential that all the constitutional institutions work according to the sentiments enshrined in the Constitution. They should stay within the limits of their jurisdiction and powers while ensuring that justice is delivered timely to the best of their abilities. He also mentioned how India became the world’s largest democracy in 1950 when the Indian Constitution gave its citizens an equal right to vote without discrimination based on caste, colour, language, gender, etc., in a world where many modern democracies failed to do so.
Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, talked about how when India became a newly independent country, it did not get a chance to make all the laws according to Indian society, so the laws that were enacted or adopted had many loopholes and issues. He explained that the three new criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023—have been enacted with a focus on justice and the protection of citizens. He pointed out a significant flaw in the previous system, where often the innocent were convicted, and criminals went free due to lack of evidence. To address this issue, CM Adityanath highlighted the importance of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, which mandates the production of forensic evidence in cases where the crime carries a punishment of more than seven years. This move, he explained, ensures that scientific and forensic methods are integrated into the justice system, reducing the chances of wrongful convictions and ensuring that justice is based on accurate, verifiable evidence.
The Chief Minister recounted the challenging state of Uttar Pradesh’s legal and law enforcement systems before 2017. He stated that the state was grappling with a fractured legal system, rampant criminal activity, and powerful mafias that operated as a parallel Government. At the time, the police force was understrength and lacked the necessary resources to maintain law and order effectively. Upon assuming office, CM Adityanath made it his priority to eliminate riots, dismantle criminal syndicates, and drive out the influence of mafias, while also ensuring a transparent process for recruiting police personnel.
He highlighted the fact that prior to his administration, Uttar Pradesh had only four forensic labs and two cyber stations across the entire state. Since then, he noted that significant improvements had been made, with the number of forensic labs and cyber stations increasing to match the vast landmass of the state, thereby ensuring better service and reach in crime prevention and investigation.
The Chief Minister also shared a significant challenge faced by the State, as the land on which UPSIFS now stands had to be reclaimed from land mafias, despite it originally being owned by the UP Police. This effort, he emphasized, was part of his larger mission to restore law and order, reclaim public assets, and strengthen institutions like UPSIFS, which play a crucial role in the state’s justice system. By highlighting this achievement, CM Adityanath underscored his commitment to making Uttar Pradesh a safer, more transparent state, where justice is not only delivered efficiently but also fairly, ensuring that the law serves the people without bias or obstruction.
“If we are not 10 steps ahead of time we will get left behind, we will have no place in this race of development. We will have to understand today’s world and work accordingly. We cannot move/shy away from the use of technology and science.” – CM Yogi Adityanath
The Chief Minister further emphasized a key point about resistance to change by citing an example from the 1990s, when the computerization of banks faced strong opposition. Critics argued that it would lead to widespread unemployment and disrupt traditional banking practices. However, CM Adityanath pointed out that, contrary to these concerns, the computerization of the banking sector ultimately led to the creation of new jobs and made the entire system more efficient and accessible. This example, he explained, highlights a broader truth: that new technologies and reforms often face resistance initially, but over time, they bring about significant improvements, streamline processes, and open up new opportunities. By drawing this parallel, the Chief Minister reinforced the importance of embracing technological advancements in the criminal justice system, such as the integration of forensic science and cybersecurity, to strengthen law enforcement and enhance the delivery of justice.
“We don’t need to run away from technology, we need to adapt it, keeping in mind its precautionary and ethical measures so that people don’t misuse it. We need to use it for development and to provide justice & relief to the common man.” – CM Yogi Adityanath
The Chief Minister also underscored the critical importance of awareness in combating cybercrime and ensuring robust cybersecurity. He stressed that to prevent cyber fraud and other digital security threats, it is essential for people to stay informed about the latest technologies. If responsible individuals fail to embrace and properly use technology, those with malicious intent will exploit it for harmful purposes. This, he noted, has been evident in recent cases involving digital arrests, evidence tampering, and various forms of cyber fraud.
CM Adityanath concluded his speech by reflecting on the continuous advancement of technology, citing the rise of Artificial Intelligence as a prime example of how rapidly the digital world is evolving. He emphasized the need for individuals, institutions, and governments to remain vigilant and adaptive to these changes.
The Chief Minister also said that it is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that ‘every victim should get justice, and every culprit should be punished‘. In realizing this vision of the Prime Minister, this institute will prove to be a milestone not only in Uttar Pradesh but in the entire northern India and will emerge as a big centre of excellence.
In closing, he thanked the audience for their participation and congratulated everyone on the occasion, reinforcing the message that progress in technology, when used responsibly, can contribute significantly to the strengthening of justice and security in the state.
After CM Yogi’s speech, Dr. Goswami took the floor to appreciate the Chief Minister’s dedication, commitment and hard work in establishing this institute and his extraordinary vision for the development of the institute in such a short span of time, since the foundation stone was laid down just three years ago in 2021, by Union Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah.
The second day of the conference consisted of various enlightening sessions wherein many Indian as well as international experts and academics delivered speeches on themes such as Forensic Evidence under New Criminal Law: A Critical Review, AI Powered Cyber Defence
Opportunities and Challenges, Building Trust in Digital India: Public Private Partnership for
Securing Computer Infrastructure, Forensic Toxicology and Historical Case Studies, Cognitive and Information Warfare-Cyber Warfare Dimension, and much more.
The Valedictory Function was graced by various dignitaries, namely Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan, Allahabad High Court, as the Chief Guest, Justice Rajeev Singh, Allahabad High Court, Mr. R.K. Vishwakarma, Former DGP of UP and Chief Information Commissioner, UP, and Mr. Asim Arun, Minister of State Government, Social Welfare, Scheduled Caste and Tribal Welfare, as the Guests of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Rajiv Singh said that the society should keep flowing like a river, if there is continuity in it, then the two banks will continue to run parallel, when there is a problem or if the river dries up, then the banks cease to exist. In this way, when the situation of crime increases in the society, the condition of the society worsens. He also shared his life experiences and some case studies with the audience.
Mr. Asim Arun, taking over the floor, congratulated the audience on Constitution Day and commended Dr. G.K. Goswami, the institute’s founder director, for positioning himself as a global expert. He highlighted the importance of striving toward making India a “Developed India” in line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision. Mr. Arun stressed that for India to grow, it must increase its expertise, particularly in technology, to stay ahead of criminals. He pointed out that both society and the state must gain greater expertise in technology and emphasized the institute’s critical role in advancing this goal.
After Mr. Asim’s speech, Mr. R.K. Vishwakarma addressed the audience. He said that this institute will remove the shortcomings related to forensics in the State. He recounted an instance from when he was sent to visit the Forensic Lab of the New York Police as the Senior Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, and now he is witnessing the envisaged forensic lab come to life in the UP Police today. He highlighted that Indian investigators need more training to understand and solve the cases of cyber security and cyber crime in depth.
While presenting mementos to all the guests, Dr. Goswami talked about how the institute will soon play an important role in establishing India as a Forensic as a Service (FaaS).
At the end of the programme, the students staged a play titled ‘Bade Dhokhein Hain, Iss Rah Mein‘, authored by Public Relations Officer of the Institute, Mr. Santosh Tiwari, through which they provided awareness on ways to avoid cyber fraud.
Shri Chiranjeev Mukherjee, Deputy Director; Shri Atul Kumar Yadav, Administrative Officer; Shri Brijesh Singh; Dr. Roshan Singh; Dr. Saurabh Yadav; Dr. Shruti Dasgupta; Shri Chandra Mohan Singh and others were present at the event.
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Rajiv Malhotra, Additional Director, UPSIFS.
