The Government Institute of Forensic Science (IFS) got its first doctorate of philosophy (PhD) holders in assistant professors Ashish Badiye and Neeti Kapoor.
Badiye, who is head of the forensic science department, was one of the founding faculty members when the IFS started from the makeshift campus at Government Institute of Science in 2011.
Kapoor joined a year later and together the husband-wife duo have authored several research works published in reputed journals like Elsevier, Taylor and Francis, Springer, SAGE, Nature, etc.
Their expertise is often sought by investigating authorities to help crack complex crimes.
Started in 2017, the PhDs, under the guidance of Swati Dubey Mishra, was recently awarded by Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya (SVVV), Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
They are probably the first researchers in the field of forensic science from the Nagpur University.
Their feat marks the beginning of research and development in this stream, which is still in the process of setting up its first forensic science research centre.
The teacher-couple spoke to TOI about the importance of research and the advantage of their latest techniques derived during the PhD in related investigations.
Excerpts…
Q.
In what way will the university gain from your achievement? A.
Neeti Kapoor: The Government Institute of Forensic Science is the first in India to be ranked in 101-150 band in the prestigious NIRF2020 ranking.
Now, having a Phd would help us speed up starting the first-ever research centre in Vidarbha under Nagpur University.
We would be able to apply to various funding agencies and carry out important and path-breaking research projects.
Meritorious students would greatly benefit.
This would ensure qualified students cracking JRF and NET in forensics don’t have to go outside Nagpur for their PhDs.
Research done from Nagpur would highlight the city on the research map of the world.
Ashish Badiye: We as doctoral candidates had to juggle between roles and cities to complete our PhD.
This is a significant challenge for students of forensic science who may decide to switch fields if they are unable to cope with the challenges.
Many students have cleared NET and JRF from our institute.
They have to apply to other institutes/universities offering doctoral programmes in other cities.
Some have even ended up losing their JRF since they were not able to secure a seat.
I hope that our achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter wherein deserving students would be able to sustain their education from the city itself.
There are renowned institutions coming up or have already set up base in Nagpur so there would be ample opportunities for collaborative research works as well.
Q.
What was your PhD topic all about? A.
NK: My study was related to determination of hand by single-digit fingerprint.
There are limited studies that deal with this wherein the researchers used only a particular pattern and a few parameters for the determination of hand.
A total of 2,900 fingerprints were analysed.
Twenty-eight parameters were studied in ten types of fingerprints.
This study confirms the findings of the earlier studies and adds novel parameters for the determination of hand from a single fingerprint.
This would be of particular help to the investigators and fingerprint examiners.
Q.
How does it make an investigator’s job easier? A.
NK: On the crime scenes, a complete set of the ten-digit fingerprints is hardly ever encountered.
Determination of hand is essential to reduce the onus of the investigator and may thereby make possible the identification of the contributor.
The single finger impressions are of diverse importance.
They are even used in place of signature in India in several vital documents like property, agreement to sell, validated (notarized) documents, registries, bank documents, loan documents, cheques, cash withdrawal and deposit slips, competitive examination forms, attendance sheets, among others.
Assessment of hand, either right or left, is one of the most vital constraints to ascertain.
In the scene of occurrence, fingerprints are not encountered in a sequence.
Fingerprints usually come across in a random sequence or maybe a single fingerprint received from the scene of the crime.
In such case(s), the determination hand of a print is significant to determine or scrutinise the suspect.
If an examiner establishes the hand, i.e., the prints belong to the right hand or left hand, it will reduce the time of investigation by further minimising the pool of suspects.
Q.
And what about your study? A.
AB: My PhD focused on assessment of handprint to determine the sex and height.
The human handprint contains a wide assortment of measurable topographies and physiognomies (physical characteristics) like the shape of the handprint, the handprint-geometry, the dermatoglyphics (skin friction ridges) patterns, and various other features.
The combination of these features proves helpful in personal identification as well as identity verification.
Generally, ‘handprint’ is a term used synonymously with ‘palmprint’.
However, it must be noted that the ‘palmprint’ comprises of the print of the inner surface of the hand between the fingers and wrist while the ‘handprint’ encompasses the palmprint, the digit prints (the prints of the four fingers between the first and third phalanx), the thumbprint (the print of the thumb between first and second phalanx) and the fingerprints (the prints of four fingertips and thumb tip).
Q.
Will this help reduce the suspect pool? A.
AB: The combination of features present on the handprints, palmprints and fingerprints are unique and permanent and serve as crucial means of identification.
The dimensions and characteristics present on the hand and palm are found useful for sex determination and stature estimation.
Sex determination has always been a challenging task for an investigating officer.
Investigators often come across the complete or incomplete palmprints and handprints along with fingerprints at the crime scene.
Various dermatoglyphic characteristics present on the palm would be helpful to determine the sex of the donor, which ultimately helps the investigator to narrow down the suspect pool to almost half.
Once the sex is determined, appropriate formulae may be applied for the estimation of stature, reducing the suspect pool further.
A total of 1,016 bilateral handprints were analysed.