About us
Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory caters to the needs of the judiciary in the prosecution of crimes. The Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory was established in 1890 in the Erstwhile Princely State of Travancore exclusively for the detection of crimes. The Chief Chemical Examiner to Government is the Head of the Department and Scientific Expert under section 293 of Criminal Procedure Code. The Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory is now functioning under the direct control of Government in the Home Department. The technical work of the laboratory is of confidential in nature and the Officers /Analysts are expected to maintain secrecy at every stage of analysis and are not expected to disclose the details of analysis to others. The officers are expected to maintain high degree of intellectual honesty and integrity.
Three laboratories are functioning under this Department. The Headquarters laboratory has jurisdiction over five southern districts namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam , Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Alappuzha. The Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory, Ernakulam has jurisdiction over central four districts namely Ernakulam, Idduki, Trissur and Palakkad districts. The five northern districts namely Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod come under the jurisdiction of Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory, Kozhikode.
Exhibits pertaining to offences punishable under IPC, NDPS Act-85, Abkari Act, EC Act, M&TP Act, MV Act, Explosives Act, etc.. are examined in various divisions of the laboratory and certificates of chemical analysis are issued. Chemical Examination of material objects involved in various crime cases like murder, human and animal poisoning, narcotics, explosives, economic offences, Abkari offences etc.. are examined respectively in Toxicology, Narcotics, General Chemistry (Miscellaneous) and Excise divisions.. Chemical and serological examinations of material objects involved in murder cases and sexual offences are undertaken in the Serology division. The reports of Chemical Examiners are admissible as evidence in the Court under section 293 of Cr.P.C. So it is very important to define various steps and procedures followed in the department in connection with handling of exhibits/samples, issuance of certificates of chemical analysis and keeping of records etc. With the view to achieve the above goal the ‘Manual of Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory Department’ is prepared. This manual is expected to be followed in the laboratory by all technical and non-technical personnel.