Dr. S. L. Vaya
Chief Mentor,
School of Behavioral Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI)
Rashtriya Raksha University, an Institution of National Importance Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
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Dr. S. L. Vaya
RCI registered Professional Clinical Psychologist, pioneer of Forensic Psychology & Neurocriminology in India. By innovation and experience a Behavioural Forensic Scientist & Forensic-Clinical Psychologist.
Contact
9409915182 (Direct)
6357244810 (RRU)
sl.vaya@rru.ac.in
vayashivarathna@gmail.com
Present Position & Experience
Chief Mentor & Emeritus Resouce faculty (ERF)
School of Criminology and Behavioural Sciences (SCBS) Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar.
- Member, search cum selection committee of The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), Government of India.
- Member, interim commission of NCAHP, Government of India.
- Member, Technical Committee for finalizing alternatives to the discontinued M.Phil. courses in Clinical Psychology & Psychiatric Social work, NITI Aayog
Expierence
Joined as Director, SCBS, RRU in December 2020 and established School of Criminology & Behavioural Sciences at RRU. She initiated share & care online psychological services for the wellbeing of corona warriors and survivors during pandemic in 2020, Mental Health services at PHC, Sampa, & CHC, Dahegam which was followed by launching of RCI recognized M.Phil in Clinical Psychology (second center in Gujarat). Three interdisciplinary advanced professional diploma courses were launched to address Deviance, Disorders and Disabilities (3Ds) and now SCBS RRU is a recognized Centre for certifying disabilities. Psycho Social Care Center at Sabarmati central prison in joint collaboration with Gujarat State Legal Services authority to address mental health issues for psychological wellbeing to facilitate rehabilitation & reintegration was launched followed by forensic mental health service center to address high risk prisoner’s mental health issues. Psychosocial care center was setup at HMH, Ahmedabad in joint collaboration wherein clinical psychology trainees & faculties provide services to all (3Ds). Clinical Psychologists, Forensic Psychologists & Clinical Criminology students also get their hands on training & experience.
Remarkable Initiatives in the field:
- Holistic approach to address Disorders, Disabilities & Deviance.
- Suspect Interrogation to reformation & rehabilitation of the victims & accused,
- Establishing National Resource Center in Forensic Psychology at DFS, Gandhinagar
- starting RCI recognized M.Phil Clinical Psychology courses in Gujarat at two centers one at GFSU and another at RRU.
- Starting Academic course in Forensic Psychology at DFS, Gandhinagar in collaboration with NIMHANS, Bengaluru.in 2009
- Establishing IBS at GFSU, Gandhinagar, Institute of R&D at RSU, Ahmedabad and SCBS at RRU, Dehgam
- Initiative to bring in all stake holders of criminal justice system on one platform by initiating Psycho Social Care Center at Sabarmati central prison in joint collaboration with Gujarat State Legal Services authority to address mental health issues of convicts and undertrial prisoners for their psychological wellbeing which can facilitate rehabilitation & reintegration.
- Dr.S.L.Vaya started Buddha Psychological Services at GFSU, Gandhinagar & Forensic Mental Health Services at RRU.
Offices Held
RAKSHA SHAKTI UNIVERSITY:
Dr.S.L Vaya joined as Director Institute of Research & Development & Professor at Raksha Shakti University. She worked on new domains like Neurocriminology, Forensic Assessment Interviews, Dermatoglyphics personality profiling, validation study of brain fingerprinting technology and other smaller projects. She started PhD program at Raksha Shakti University from August 2014 and in the first batch, 13 students were registered for PhD on document examination, fingerprint analysis, forensic toxicology, cyber security, digital forensics, forensic psychology and police science and by 2016, 25 PhD scholars were registered at RSU. During her tenure M.Phil was also started. She was the Chief Editor of RSU Magazine “KAVACH” published Bi-annually for Four Issues, Chief Editor of international Research Journal of Police Science published in Jul-Dec 2015, and second issue of Jul- Dec 2016 is published in Jan2017, Published booklet on Police Commemoration Day 21st Oct. 2015 and 21st Oct. 2016 & Published RSU Newsletter Quarterly.
GUJARAT FORENSIC SCIENCE UNIVERSITY, GANDHINAGAR, GUJARAT
Dr.S.L.Vaya worked as Director & Dean, Institute of Behavioural Sciences & Gujarat Forensic Science University & Adjunct Faculty at JSS University, Mysore, She started M.Psy in Clinical Psychology, P.G.Diploma in Forensic Psychology, RCI approved M.Phil in clinical psychology for the first time in Gujarat & M.Phil in Forensic Psychology from 2011 in India. Established Buddha Psychological Services for civil cases (OPD at IBS) & Buddha Counseling services for prison inmates for rehabilitation at Sabarmati Central Prison.
Directorate of Forensic Science, gandhinagar
Dr.S.L.Vaya joined as Assistant Director (Lie Detection) at FSL, Ahmedabad in 1984 and worked for 15 years. She established Forensic Psychology division at FSL, Ahmedabad in 1988 and pioneered Forensic Psychology in India. .She also established National Resource Center for Forensic Psychology at DFS, Gandhinagar. She developed procedures and methodologies of all advanced technologies related to suspect interrogations in Gujarat. For comprehensive forensic analysis of the suspect’s behavior, she used forensic statement analysis, crime scene profiling, behavior profiling, forensic psychological assessment, forensic hypnosis, polygraph examination, forensic Narcoanalysis, Brain signature profiling, suspect detection system, Layered Voice Analysis and reported both criminal and civil cases.
She was handling technical, legal & administrative aspects as head of forensic psychology division. She worked as Deputy Director for 9 years, & as Additional Director for three years at DFS, Gandhinagar, Gujarat as technical & administrative head.
MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL COLLEGE SETUP
Dr.S.L.Vaya worked as professional Clinical Psychologist at Kasturba Medical college, Manipal, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, B,M Institute of Mental Health, Hospital for Mental Health, Ahmedabad from 1975-1984. She was appointed as Licensing Subcommittee member of Licensing Authority of Mental Health Act, 1987, by Government of Gujarat for four years and as Non-Official Member, State Mental Health Authority, Government of Gujarat for four years.
Role in Criminal Justice System
Examined more than 5000 cases
She has examined nearly 5000 cases using techniques like polygraph examination, Forensic Hypnosis, Forensic narcoanalysis, brain signature profiling, Brain fingerprinting suspect detection system, layered voice analysis, psychological profiling, forensic statement analysis, criminal profiling and reported cases for CID-crime, CBI, IB, Revenue, vigilance commission, and ATS from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Panchkula, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, M.P, U.P, Manipur, Portblair, Kolkata, Jammu and Kashmir in addition to appearing as expert witness in criminal trials in various sessions’ courts of Gujarat, Kerala, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Indore, Ajmer, and Ranchi including CBI courts.
FEW IMPORTANT cases
- Godhra carnage, Ahmedabad Bomb Blast, High court bomb blast, Delhi, Ajmer arms Haul, Malegaon Bomb blast, Aurangabad Bomb blast etc
- Madhumita Shukla murder,
- Gutka case,
- Nithari serial killing,
- Aarushi-Hemraj double murder,
- Ujjain serial killing,
- Ranchi multiple murder,
- Fake stamp scam,
- Lion poaching in Gujarat,
- Midday meal tragedy of Bihar.
Technical Expert with NABL
first NABL Accredited Forensic Psychologist in India for Polygraph Examination
- Dr Vaya is the first NABL Accredited Forensic Psychologist in India for Polygraph Examination, Narcoanalysis and Brain signature Profiling. NABL appointed Dr Vaya as technical expert for onsite assessment of lie detector unit to State FSL, Andhra Pradesh, CFSL, CBI, New Delhi, and Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban, Haryana. She has assisted family courts and lok adalats as reconciliatory. As Deputy Director at FSL, Ahmedabad and DFS Gandhinagar.,
- Dr.S.L.Vaya was technical & administrative Head supervising 14 divisions at DFS, Gujarat;
- Chemistry,
- Toxicology,
- Blood alcohol,
- Prohibition possession,
- Narcotics and explosives,
- Physics,
- Ballistics,
- Biology,
- Serology,
- DNA,
- Document and Photography, forensic psychology, fingerprint bureau and mobile crime scene units before promoted as Additional Director.
Member Affiliation
Member role
- Member of INTERIM COMMISSION FOR ALLIED AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS for Behavioural Health Sciences & community care.
- Member of search & selection committee of National Commission for Allied & Health care professions
- Member of Research Advisory Board, B. M. Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad;
- Distinguished Visiting Professor at SGT University, Gurgaon, External Expert member of Lab Research Council (LRC) of DIPR, DRDO
- Member of National Central Council Member constituted be NIMHANS, Bangalore & was invited as Guest of Honor for the inauguration.
- Visiting Faculty at Forensic Science Department, Gujarat University, Nirma Institute of Law.
- Co-Investigator of a CSIR project at Psychology department of Kolkata University, Resource person to Gujarat Judicial Academy, National Police Academy, Hyderabad and North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), Shillong.
- Expert Consultant to Vice Media for Crime documentary: “The butcher of Delhi" & “The beast of Bengaluru” & for Rattaplax for “The karma killings”
Invited Speaker/Resource Person
Speaker
- National Judicial Academy Bhopal,
- Gujarat Judicial Academy, Ahmedabad & Bar Council of Gujarat
- Maharashtra Judicial Academy, Mumbai
- National Police Academy, Hyderabad
- Hyderabad, Karai Police Academy, Gujarat,
- CBI academy, Ghaziabad,
- Maharashtra Police Academy, Mumbai
- Moradabad Police academy,
- NICFS, New Delhi &
- North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA).
- Law department Jammu University, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Kuvempu University, Shimoga,
- XLRI, Jamshedpur
- Tedx speaker
Awards & Media
Commendation Certificate in 2004
Commendation certificate in 2004 for “achieving excellence in providing forensic science support service to crime investigation” by Deputy Union Home Minister Shri.L.K Advani
Award of Excellence in SAFCON -2008
AMITY University, Noida and AIIMS, New Delhi honoured her with “Award of Excellence” in SAFCON -2008 by Union Home Minister Shri Shivaraj Patil.
Prestigious Union Home Ministers Awardee - 2010
Prestigious Union Home Ministers awardee for meritorious services for the outstanding contribution in the field of forensic physical sciences in December 2010.
Kang Oration Lecture Award - 2011
She got Kang oration Lecture award by Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists in the year 2011.
IACP instituted S. L. Vaya Forensic Psychology award.
She got the Forensic Clinical Psychology award for 2015 and IACP instituted S. L. Vaya Forensic Psychology award.
Prestigious Union Home Ministers Life time Achievement Awardee 2014
Prestigious Union Home Ministers Life time Achievement Awardee for 2014 was conferred by Union Home Minister Shri.Rajnath Singh in February 2018 in Forensic Physical Sciences.
Life Time Achievement Award - 2023
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat - Shri Bhupindrabhai Patel conferred ‘the Life Time Achievement Award to Dr S L Vaya during International Conference on Clinical Research for the Role of Psychology, Yoga and Naturopathy for Well Being.
Rashtriya Raksha University celebrated Achievements - 2023
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bimal Patel honoured Dr. S. L Vaya for her distinguished services and magnificant achievments.
Cambodia Visit - 2023
Dr S. L. Vaya and Dr J.R.Gaur from Rashtriya Raksha University, met Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister, Royal Govt. of Cambodia, Dr. Devyani. U. Khobragade, Ambassador, embassy of India& HE. LOY SOPHATH, M. P Stoeng Treng Province, kingdom of Cambodia.
News & Updates
B. M. Instituite of mental health
05/02/2024 Dr. S. L. Vaya was invited as Expert Speaker at B. M. Institute of Mental Health - Ahmedabad
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Recent Updates
Commendation Certificate in 2004
Dr. S. L. Vaya participated as Expert Speaker in the National Seminar on ‘Unfolding Mental Health Needs and Way Forward in 21st Century’ organized by B. M. Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad in fond memory of Smt. Sarojbahen Mehta and supported Shree Jaswant Mehta Charitable Trust from 2nd February to 4th February, 2024.
Dr. S. L. Vaya is thankful to B. M. Institute of Mental Health and team, in particular to Dr Madhu Singh for the kind invitation.
Vipassana Meditation
"An Introduction to Vipassana"
2025
"Correctional Services through the Lens of Vipassana Meditation"
2023
Example
2022
Associations
