SFS Laboratory Junga passes NABL assessment

The evaluation team of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) conducted a two-day evaluation of the State Forensic Science Laboratory at Junga. The evaluation team was led by Dr. Omkar Santoshrao Mondhe and included technical experts from reputed forensic institutions across the country, including Dr. Kavita Goyal, Dr. Rajiv Kawatra, Dr. Aman Kumar Yadav, and Dr. H.J. Trivedi. The team comprehensively assessed the laboratory’s quality management system, technical systems, and the competence of its forensic experts.
Dr. Meenakshi Mahajan, Director of Forensic Services, explained that the annual evaluation by NABL is conducted to assess quality standards, operational efficiency, and the competence of forensic experts in accordance with internationally accepted norms. Adherence to these standards is crucial, as forensic reports are submitted to investigative agencies and ultimately presented in courts of law, where they play a vital role in the administration of justice.
Dr. Meenakshi Mahajan, Director of Forensic Services, Himachal Pradesh, stated that the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Himachal Pradesh, Shimla Hills, Junga, has been accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories since 2018 and currently has ten divisions: the Department of Biology and Serology, the Department of Chemistry and Toxicology, the Department of DNA, the Department of Documents and Photography, the Department of Digital Forensics, the Department of NDPS, the Department of Physics and Ballistics, the Department of Voice Analysis, the Department of Forensic Psychology, and the State Fingerprint Bureau.
He informed that in a significant achievement, the State Finger Print Bureau under Directorate of Forensic Services, Himachal Pradesh has received National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation in 2024, making it the first accredited Finger Print Bureau in India.
Dr. Meenakshi Mahajan explained that in the current situation, forensic laboratories across India are rapidly adopting the standards set by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, making it essential to ensure technical competence at par with global standards. This accreditation process is a major step towards strengthening Himachal Pradesh’s forensic infrastructure and ensuring reliable, high-quality scientific services to support the justice system.