Jayantkumar Maganlal Vyas

Jayantkumar Maganlal Vyas is a forensic scientist and the founding vice-chancellor of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). With 48 years in forensic work at the time of the award, he was the senior-most serving forensic scientist in India. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of science and engineering, from Gujarat ^[1].

Forty-eight years in forensics

Vyas was born on 6 November 1951 and comes from Junagadh ^[2]. He took a BSc in 1971 and an MSc in chemistry in 1973 from Saurashtra University, and later a law degree in 1986 and a PhD in 2007 from Gujarat University ^[2]. He joined Gujarat’s forensic service in 1973 and stayed with it, heading several of its laboratories and leading the state’s Directorate of Forensic Science as director for 28 years; in 2020 he was made director general ^[2].

He has worked in many branches of forensic science, developed new forensic techniques and handled investigations into serious crimes across the country ^[2]. He also started hands-on training for forensic experts and for police officers, judges and prosecutors ^[2].

A university for forensics

In 2009 he set up the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, described as the world’s first university devoted to forensic science ^[2]. Under his 12-year leadership it became the National Forensic Sciences University, an institution of national importance, with campuses in New Delhi, Goa and Tripura and schools of police science, forensic law, medico-legal studies and forensic psychology ^[2]. At the time of the award it had about 5,000 students in 70 specialised courses ^[2]. He has received the President’s Police Medal for meritorious service ^[2].