HISTORY OF SIMLA

            Every new beginning comes from a small dream. A dream was made into a reality by the hard work and the thought process of likeminded individuals.  In 2003 the dream gave birth to the concept of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA). 

In 2003, a CME program was organized by The Tamilnadu Medico-legal Society at Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai. Delegates from various southern states attending the Conference voiced their desire to have a similar kind of academic fest every year in each southern state so that the Forensic fraternity from all southern states can have a common platform to share, exchange and enrich their knowledge..

The vision of the fraternity was recognized by, the Organizing team of the CME program. They extended their team’s support to conduct the First informal meeting at Mahabalipuram, 60kms off Chennai on the subsequent day after the CME. The delegates were also enthused and extended their deliberations the subsequent day.

It was during this informal meeting it was resolved to have an Association called “South India Medico Legal Association” – SIMLA. It was also resolved that this Association will try to meet the academic pursuits of Forensic fraternity from the southern states of India viz: Tamilnadu, Andhrapradesh, Karnataka & Kerala. The group also resolved to have Bangalore as the head quarters and every state will conduct an annual conference of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) by rotation.

The following members are primarily the ones who took the lead, deliberated and conceptualized South India Medico Legal Association (SIMLA).

The first official meeting of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) was held in Mangaluru in December 2003 along the sidelines of the 12th annual conference of Karnataka Medicolegal Society – KAMLS 

In February 2004, the second meeting of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) was held in Bangalore. It was organized by Prof. L. Thirunavukarasu in which two esteemed and honorary members were invited from each southern state and the concept of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) was finalized. During this meeting the main objectives of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) were put forth, coined and crystallized.   The by-laws were formed and the process to register the Association under the Societies Act 1860 was initiated. The culmination of the dream of great visionaries came to fruition with the first Annual South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) conference being held in 2004.  Since then South India medicolegal Association has ensured that the annual conferences are regularly held in different southern states every year.

Senior members of the Association led by Prof. B.M.Balaraj, had put relentless efforts to raise the corpus which had given certain financial stability for the Association. During 2013 – 14, Membership drive was undertaken by Dr. Mahesh Krishna who was the President of the Association during the said period. He and his team ensured that a substantial amount generated during the 11^th Annual conference of  South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) held at Coimbatore was also contributed towards the corpus funds. This enabled the organization to have a greater financial resource to conduct diverse academic activities.

In addition to these developments, in 2014, another Senior Member of the organization, Prof. G. M. Krishna Rao, came out with a novel method to encourage youngsters pursuing the post graduate course in the subject of Forensic medicine. He voluntarily instituted a corpus fund for giving Prizes for the Post graduates who are declared as winners during Scientific Paper presentations. This has made youngsters to actively take part in the conferences and present scientific papers during conferences which will be adjudged by a team of senior Forensic Medicine fraternity

During the General body meeting held at Coimbatore in September 2014, it was resolved that the interest drawn from the corpus will be utilized for the following academic activities

• Prof M K R Krishnan Memorial oration, which will be given by a recognized and reputed expert from the field of Forensic Medicine, on the Inaugural day of Annual Conference of South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA).
• A certain quantum of Funds would be provided for sustenance and maintenance of the periodicity of the Journal of South India Medico legal Association (J-SIMLA)

Any academic body gains recognition only when they have a mouth piece in the form of a journal which carries host of scientific information intended for enriching knowledge among the professional fraternity who carry an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The Editorial team led by Prof. Pradeep Kumar has ensured that the journals are published regularly which is recognized and accredited by various scientific bodies.

As on date South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA), has evolved into an academic body constituent of Professionals from the states of Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Pondicherry & Goa. It has gained greater importance with induction of Forensic Medicine Faculty from other states of India also.

Currently the organization has constituted a core committee comprising of few senior members of the organization who are overseeing the growth of SIMLA.

The current Core Committee Members are