(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 Code, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code.

(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;] [Substituted by Act 25 of 2005, Section 26, for Cl. (b) (w.e.f. 23-6-2006). Prior to its substitution, Cl. (b) read as under :- [(b) the Chief Inspector of Explosives;].]

(c) the Director of the Finger Print Bureau;

(d) the Director, Haffkeine Institute, Bombay;

(e) the Director [Deputy Director or Assistant Director] [Inserted by Act 45 of 1978, Section 21 (w.e.f. 18-12-1978).] of a Central Forensic Science Laboratory or a State Forensic Science Laboratory;

(f) the Serologist to the Government.

(g) [ any other Government Scientific Expert specified, by notification, by the Central Government for this purpose.] [Added by Act 25 of 2005, Section 26 (w.e.f. 23-6-2006).]