Any scientist's report automatically qualifies under this rule.

It only applies to the specific government experts named in the section, like chemical examiners, the fingerprint bureau director, and forensic laboratories, or others the government has specifically notified for this purpose.

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 329

Reports of certain Government scientific experts

(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of a Government scientific expert to whom this section applies, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis and report in the course of any proceeding under this Sanhita, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Sanhita.§

(2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such expert as to the subject-matter of his report.§

(3) Where any such expert is summoned by a Court, and he is unable to attend personally, he may, unless the Court has expressly directed him to appear personally, depute any responsible officer working with him to attend the Court, if such officer is conversant with the facts of the case and can satisfactorily depose in Court on his behalf.§

(4) This section applies to the following Government scientific experts, namely:—§

(a) any Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government;§

(b) the Chief Controller of Explosives;§

(d) the Director, Haffkeine Institute, Bombay;§

(e) the Director, Deputy Director or Assistant Director of a Central Forensic Science Laboratory or a State Forensic Science Laboratory;§

(f) the Serologist to the Government;§

(g) any other scientific expert specified or certified, by notification, by the State Government or the Central Government for this purpose.§

Why this exists

Forensic science is central to modern criminal trials, and this list of expert bodies produces a huge volume of routine technical reports. This provision, from Section 293 of the old CrPC, makes it efficient for their formal reports to count as evidence without always demanding personal appearance, while still letting courts call the expert, or a knowledgeable deputy, when real questions arise.

Common misconceptions

Myth: Any scientist's report automatically qualifies under this rule.
Fact: It only applies to the specific government experts named in the section, like chemical examiners, the fingerprint bureau director, and forensic laboratories, or others the government has specifically notified for this purpose.