PANAJI
The Digital Forensics Laboratory of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Dharbandora campus, has been officially notified as an 'Examiner of Electronic Evidence' under Section 79A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
This recognition makes the Goa facility the second NFSU laboratory to secure the accreditation. The notification empowers the lab to examine and certify evidence in two critical domains -- computer (media) forensics and mobile device forensics.
With this, NFSU Goa joins an exclusive group of just 21 notified forensic laboratories across India and just the fourth in Western India.
NFSU officials said the certification followed a rigorous multi stage audit by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in which the lab demonstrated advanced technical competence, licensed forensic tools, and certified quality management systems.
With the notification, evidence examined here will carry maximum legal admissibility in courts across India which will also meet expert certification requirements under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
Officials said, the recognition will strengthen NFSU Goa’s academic, research, and consultancy ecosystem and it will also be legally empowered to act as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence to assist the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and security analysts in Goa, across India, and also internationally.
Law enforcement agencies can now submit digital exhibits -- from computers and mobile devices -- directly to the Dharbandora campus for examination, the NFSU officials said, adding it will bridge a critical gap in Western India.
