The first Forensic Science Laboratory in India came into existence at Calcutta for the State of West Bengal on 1 ST July 1952. It was a brain-child of the great visionary Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal. The laboratory started functioning under the able guidance of Dr. N. K. Sen as Director, State Forensic Science Laboratory.

The medico-legal section of Chemical Examiner’s Department was transferred to this laboratory. The laboratory was housed in the building situated within the campus of Calcutta Medical College for performing biological and toxicological tests as part of medico-legal examinations. A small unit of Physics was added in 1955 and became fully functional in 1957. In the same year, Foot Print and Note Forgery Section of CID, West Bengal were transferred to this laboratory.

In 1971, the laboratory functioning from Calcutta Medical College was shifted to its present location at Belgachia, Kolkata – 37. The General Chemistry Section of Chemical Examiner’s Department was also shifted to this new laboratory. In 1973, Ballistics Section was created and Questioned Documents Bureau, West Bengal was also transferred to the newly built laboratory. The laboratory once used to undertake examination of cases from Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Manipur, Tripura, Assam and other States in addition to all the internal cases of the State of West Bengal. To extend the forensic facilities to the remote corner and to ease the work load of Headquarter, a Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) was set up in 1987 at Jalpaiguri to cater to the cases of North Bengal and the border districts. Presently, RFSL, Jalpaiguri undertakes cases of eight different districts of North Bengal viz. Darjeeling, Kalingpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda. In addition, cases from two Police Districts of North Bengal viz. Islampore Police District and Raiganj Police District as well as from one commissionerate viz. Siliguri Police Commissionerate are also undertaken by the RFSL, Jalpaiguri. To extend the forensic facilities even further, another Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) has been set up in 2023 at Durgapur. The RFSL, Durgapur was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee on the 2 nd February, 2023 with an objective to cater to the needs of five districts viz. Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia. The State Forensic Science Laboratory, Govt. of West Bengal since its inception in 1952, is thus performing its duty with a view to achieving scientific excellence in rendering services to Criminal Justice Delivery System. The Laboratory is gifted with a large number of Forensic Experts having excellent academic, scientific and research skills in Forensic Sciences. To keep the pace with the modern crime patterns and to enhance the quality of examinations, a number of sophisticated instruments such as HPLC, HPTLC, GC-MS- HS, UV-VIS, FTIR, VSC, SEM, DNA Analyzer etc. have been installed. The Laboratory is organizing training programs, seminars, conferences etc on a regular basis.

The laboratory has recently initiated the process to achieve NABL accreditation.