The Lady and the Lab

Dr. Shivrathna Lalit Vaya, an expert clinical psychologist, has examined around 5000 cases including Nithari serial killing, Aarushi-Hemraj double murder, Madhumita Shukla case and Ujjain serial killing.

- Kaushik Joshi

Her passion for clinical psychology impacted upon the trajectory of her career as a working woman and has brought her wide accolades. And it has also brought her from the cool climes of Mysore city to the scorching sun of Ahmedabad where she has spent four decades of her illustrious life.

Dr. Shivrathna Lalit Vaya, 64, presently the director of Raksha Shakti University in Ahmedabad, hails from Karnataka but feels at home in Ahmedabad.

Her suaveness, warmth and patience would hardly make one believe that she has had a three decade stint within the stiff routine and rigor of a forensic science lab.

In the course of her services for the Government of Gujarat as forensic psychologist, she has examined about 5000 cases using techniques like polygraph examination, narcoanalysis, brain signature profiling, suspect detection system, layered voice analysis, psychological profiling, forensic statement analysis and criminal profiling. She has also reported cases for CID, CBI, IB, Revenue and ATS from several states of India and has also appeared as an expert witness in criminal trials in various sessions courts in the country.

Her domains