RFSL
Definition
Regional Forensic Science Laboratory. Sub-state, district or zonal level. Absorbs the SFSL's overflow and handles district-court matters.
- Level in hierarchy
- District or zonal branch of an SFSL
- Mobile capability
- Supported by Mobile FSL vans for on-scene evidence response
- Primary jurisdiction
- District-court matters within their zone or district
Common questions
What is the difference between an SFSL and an RFSL?+
An SFSL (State Forensic Science Laboratory) is the main state-level lab, while an RFSL (Regional Forensic Science Laboratory) is a smaller district or zone-level branch underneath it. RFSLs handle the overflow work from the state lab and manage cases for district courts.
How do RFSLs respond to crimes at the scene?+
RFSLs are often supported by Mobile FSL vans that can travel to the crime scene for on-scene response and evidence collection.
What types of cases does an RFSL typically handle?+
RFSLs primarily handle district-court matters within their zone or district. They absorb cases that would otherwise overwhelm the state-level lab, making the forensic system more distributed across the state.
Related terms
- CFSL
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory: a central government lab operating under DFSS. India has CFSLs at New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Pune, Guwahati,...
- DFSS
- Directorate of Forensic Science Services, India; issues the Forensic Laboratory Manual that governs glass and soil examination procedures, including the bromoform-based density...
- NFSU
- National Forensic Sciences University. Headquartered at Gandhinagar, with campuses spreading across India. Statutory university status since 2020; trains the bulk of new...
- SFSL
- State Forensic Science Laboratory: a state-government lab that processes the bulk of routine casework from state and district police. Quality and capacity...
- BPR&D
- Bureau of Police Research and Development. MHA body for police modernisation, training standards, and forensic-equipment specifications.
- CCTNS
- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems. Pan-India platform for FIR registration and inter-state crime data, rollout from 2009 under NCRB.
- CDFD
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad. Specialist national lab under the Department of Biotechnology, founded 1995, focused on DNA work.
- FIR
- First Information Report under Section 173 BNSS 2023 (formerly Section 154 CrPC). Trigger document that feeds into CCTNS and downstream forensic referral.
- GEQD
- Government Examiner of Questioned Documents: the central body for document examination with offices at Shimla and Hyderabad, examining handwriting, ink, paper, and...
- MHA
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Parent ministry for DFSS, CFSLs (excluding CBI-administered CFSL Delhi), NCRB, BPR&D and NFSU.
- NCRB
- National Crime Records Bureau. MHA body established 1986; runs CCTNS, publishes the Crime in India report, and operates CFPB and NAFIS.
- NICFS
- National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science: India's central forensic training institute in New Delhi, running courses for forensic scientists, police, and...
Explained in these topics
- Indian Forensic Laboratories: CFSL, SFSL, RFSL MapRegional Forensic Science Laboratory. Sub-state, district or zonal level. Absorbs the SFSL's overflow and handles district-court matters.
- Organisation of FSLs, NCRB and NICFSRegional Forensic Science Laboratory. District or zone-level branch of an SFSL, often supported by Mobile FSL vans for on-scene response.