Dr. S. L. Vaya

Project Head, SASTRA
Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar.

About Dr. S. L. Vaya

Dr. S.L. Vaya is working as Project Head of Security and Scientific Technical Research Association (SASTRA) at Rashtriya Raksha University.

Dr. S.L. Vaya is working as Chief Mentor and ERF (Emeritus Resource Faculty) of School of Behavioral Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI) at Rashtriya Raksha University. Prior to this she worked as Director, SCBS, RRU & started RCI recognized M. Phil in Clinical Psychology (second centre in Gujarat), Interdisciplinary Professional Diplomas in Clinical Criminology, Neuro-Criminology & Clinical-Forensic Psychology and online certificate course in Cyber Psychology. She started rural & community mental health services by setting up Mental health services at PHC, Sampa & CHC Dahegam. Now, RRU has a recognized centre for disability certification. She started Psychosocial Care Service Centre at Sabarmati central prison in joint collaboration with Gujarat state legal services authority monitored by three judges team from high court of Gujarat. and Forensic Mental Health Service Centre for high risk prisoners under govt. Of Gujarat. She is a liasoning officer for Deradicalization project. At present, the focus in on establishing psycho-social care service Centres for the rehabilitation & reintegration pf prisoners at Rajkot, Vadodara & Surat Prisons.

Dr.S.L. Vaya is a member of search cum selection committee of National Council for Allied and Health Care Professions and also a member of Interim Commission for Allied & Health Care Professions. She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at SGT University, Gurgaon, member of Research Advisory Board, at B. M. Institute of Mental Health, Ahmedabad; External Expert member of Lab Research Council (LRC) of DIPR, DRDO, Member of National Central Council Member constituted be NIMHANS, Bangalore. She is a resource person to Gujarat Judicial Academy, National Police Academy, Hyderabad and North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA), Shillong, National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. She has worked as consultant to vice media for NETFLIX crime documentary the “Butcher of Delhi” and the “Beast of Bengaluru” and for Rattaplax, US on “Karma killings”.

Prior to this, she worked as Dean and Director of Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University for three years. She was first to start RCI approved M. Phil in Clinical Psychology training in Gujarat, M. Phil in Forensic Psychology and PG Diploma in Forensic Psychology in India. She established Buddha Psychological Services and extended services to school children with Specific Learning Disabilities and services for the rehabilitation of convicts at Sabarmati Central Prison. Prior to that worked as professional Clinical Psychologist for 8 years at Mental Health Institutes and Medical Colleges. 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.

Dr.S.L. Vaya established Forensic Psychology division at FSL, Ahmedabad in 1988 and is the pioneer of Forensic Psychology in India. She developed procedures and methodologies of all advanced technologies related to suspect interrogations in Gujarat. For comprehensive forensic analysis of the suspect’s behaviour, she used forensic statement analysis, crime scene profiling, behaviour profiling, forensic psychological assessment, polygraph examination, Narcoanalysis, Brain signature profiling, brain fingerprinting, suspect detection system and Layered Voice Analysis and reported both criminal and civil cases. She was handling technical, legal & administrative aspects as head of forensic psychology division for 28 years. She has examined nearly 5000 cases and reported cases for CID-crime, CBI, IB, Revenue, and ATS from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, M.P, U.P, Manipur, Portblair, Kolkata, Jammu and Kashmir in addition to Gujarat. She has appeared as expert witness in criminal trials in various sessions’ courts of Gujarat, Kerala, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Indore, Ajmer, Chandigarh, and Ranchi including CBI courts. Few high profile cases reported are Madhumita Shukla case, Gutka case, Nithari serial killing, Aarushi-Hemraj double murder, Ujjain serial killing, Ranchi multiple murder, fake stamp scam, lion poaching in Gujarat. Cases reported from Raksha Shakti University include Bihar midday meal tragedy. She established National Resource Center for Forensic Psychology at DFS, Gandhinagar. She is the first NABL Accredited Forensic Psychologist in India for Polygraph Examination, Narcoanalysis and Brain Signature Profiling. NABL appointed her 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. She was instrumental in starting certificate course in forensic psychology at NIMHANS, Bangalore in collaboration with DFS, Gandhinagar and DFS, MHA, New Delhi. She was in charge of the TIFAC-DST project on normative data for BEOS profiling and Principal Investigator of NRC for forensic psychology project of DFS, MHA, New Delhi.

Awards:

  1. AMITY University, Noida and AIIMS, New Delhi honoured her with “Award of Excellence” in SAFCON -2008 by Union Home Minister Shri Shivaraj Patil.
  2. She got Kang oration Lecture award by Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists in the year 2011.
  3. She got the Forensic Clinical Psychology award for 2015
  4. IACP instituted S. L. Vaya Forensic Psychology award in 2016.
  5. Seven Universities jointly organized an international conference wherein Honourable C.M of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel honoured Dr.S.L. Vaya with “Lifetime Achievement Award” for exceptional contribution to Clinical & Forensic Psychology on 10th September 2023.
  6. VC of RRU announced to institute S.L. Vaya Gold medal in Forensic Psychology.

Dr.S.L. Vaya is an RCI recognized professional Clinical Psychologist by training, pioneer of Forensic Psychology & Neurocriminology in India. By innovation, experience & experience she is a Behavioural Forensic Expert.