Rohtak: Prof. (Dr.) Devendra Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. BR Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat was officially invited to attend and address the 24th Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS-2026). This prestigious international conference was organized from 25 to 30 May 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.The IAFS is one of the world’s leading global forums for leading forensic experts, legal scholars, scientists, medical professionals, criminal investigators, policymakers, and academics to consider contemporary challenges and innovations in forensic sciences, the criminal justice system, and legal medicine. The theme of this year’s conference, “Working Together for the Future of Forensic Sciences”, aims to promote technological advancement, interdisciplinary cooperation, and international cooperation in forensic investigations and justice delivery systems.During the conference, Prof. (Dr.) Devendra Singh presented his academic paper titled “A Paradigm Shift in Indian Forensics: The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022: Balance Technological Integration with the Constitutional Safeguards in Criminal Justice.” In his presentation, he elaborated on the evolving landscape of forensic sciences in India and the increasing integration of advanced technologies in criminal investigations.He observed that investigative agencies in India have long operated under the colonial-era Identification of Prisoners Act 1920, which imposed significant restrictions on scientific evidence collection and forensic modernization. He highlighted that the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 has greatly expanded the scope of forensic investigations by incorporating modern biometric identifiers such as iris and retina scans, DNA-based biological samples, sample signatures, handwritten samples and voice recordings. According to him, these reforms have aligned India’s investigative framework with globally accepted scientific standards.Prof. Singh further emphasized the need to establish national forensic standardization protocols, develop secure digital infrastructure and strengthen the technology-based justice delivery system in India. He also emphasized the importance of balancing technological integration with constitutional protections and individual rights within the criminal justice framework.The participation of the VC of DBRANLU at such a prominent international platform is expected to strengthen the university’s global academic engagement and promote collaborative discourse on forensic sciences, legal innovations, human rights, and technology-enabled justice systems.
