About Us

The department started functioning as a part of the Government Medical College, Kottayam since 1964 under the leadership of the Dr. Balaraman Nair, M.D who was an expert in Pathology. It was later headed by the Stalwarts like Dr. V KJayapalan and Dr. B Umadathan and many more renowned forensic experts. The autopsy services to the State as a part of the criminal investigations were started later which is continuing in an uninterrupted manner till date. The postgraduate course in Forensic Medicine [MDForensic Medicine] came into effect from the year 2010 with 2 PG seats per year, which is recognized by the National Medical Council of India [NMC]. Currently the department is fully functional with 6 faculty members and 1 Senior Resident supported by 2 Junior Residents per year (total 6 Junior Residents) and 8 other staff members. Apart from those there are two Police Officers [1 Liaison Officer and 1 Police Driver) posted here from the Home Department for the smooth management of the medico-legal related matters. The faculty position is as follows: Professor & HOD-1,Associate Professor-1, Assistant Professors-4 and Senior Resident-1.

The Department of Forensic Medicine, GMC, Kottayam is offering medicolegal services (medico-legal postmortem and other medicolegal examinations) to the Police, other law enforcement officers and the Judicial Officers from the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta as specified by the existing Government Orders. Apart from these, the department is sharing its expertise on various matters to the various agencies of the Home Department including Kerala Police and the Central Investigation Agencies. The department is also conducting training sessions for the Judicial Officers and the Assistant Public Prosecutors, periodically sent from the office of the Director General of Prosecution.In addition to the training offered to the medical undergraduate and postgraduate students, the department is also conducting classes for the nursing students, MLT students and the students from other various institutions posted here as a part of their curriculum.

The department is spread over two separate blocks, one with an office complex and faculty rooms including the seminar hall. The other block has two autopsy theatres, 18 cold room units, department library, museum and demonstration rooms. The mortuary block is equipped with five autopsy tables (old and new units) and 18 cold room units for the preservation of dead bodies. We are enhancing the infrastructural facilities and human resources in order to extend the autopsy timings to the evening hours as an extended public service, with plans for round-the-clock availability of postmortem services in future.

Regular Academic activities:

There are ongoing research works (6 research proposals) by the various Junior Residents in Forensic Medicine and other research activities committed by the faculty members. We have pre-scheduled classes for the various batches of MBBS undergraduates and Forensic postgraduates in a systematic manner. We are also conducting weekly academic sessions (seminars) with the compulsory participation of the interns posted at the Forensic Medicine department and monthly Clinico-Pathological Clubs with the involvement of the Junior Residents in Pathology who are posted at the department.