History of SIMLA
Every fresh start emerges from a humble dream, brought to life through the diligent efforts and shared aspirations of like-minded individuals. The year 2003 marked the inception of the South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) born from this very dream.
In the same year, The Tamilnadu Medico-legal Society orchestrated a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program at Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai. Delegates hailing from various southern states, who participated in the conference, voiced their longing for an annual academic event across all southern states. Their vision aimed to establish a common platform for the forensic community, fostering the exchange, sharing, and enhancement of their knowledge.
Recognizing the significance of this collective vision, the organizing team of the CME program pledged their support to convene the first informal meeting at Mahabalipuram, located 60 kilometers from Chennai, on the day following the CME. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of the delegates, discussions extended into the subsequent day.
During this informal gathering, a unanimous decision was reached to establish an association named “South India Medico Legal Association” – SIMLA. The association’s primary goal was to cater to the academic pursuits of the forensic fraternity.
Additionally, the group agreed to designate Bangalore as the headquarters and decided that each state would take turns hosting an annual South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) conference.
From TAMILNADU
Dr. Patnaik
Dr. Edwin Joe
Dr. Thangaraj
Dr. Savior Selva Suresh
Dr. Sampath Kumar
Dr. Karthikeyan
Dr. Vallinayagam
Dr. Shantha Kumar
Dr. Ravindran
Dr. Dr. Selva Kumar
Dr. Rajesh
Dr. Selvamurugan
From KARNATAKA
- Dr. L.Thirunavukkarasu
- Dr. K.H.Manjunath
- Dr. Devadass
- Dr. Abdul Wahab
- Dr. B.M.Balaraj
- Dr. Pradeep Kumar
From ANDHRA PRADESH
- Dr. Veera Nagi Reddy
- Dr. Phanindra
- Dr. Bhaskar Reddy
- Dr. Narayana Reddy
From KERALA
- Dr. V V Pillay
The inaugural gathering of the South India Medicolegal Association (SIMLA) took place in Mangaluru in December 2003, coinciding with the 12th annual conference of the Karnataka Medicolegal Society (KAMLS).
In February 2004, the second meeting of SIMLA occurred in Bangalore, organized by Prof. L. Thirunavukarasu. Esteemed members from each southern state were invited, and the concept of SIMLA was solidified. The meeting delineated the main objectives, formulated the by-laws, and initiated the process to officially register the Association under the Societies Act 1860. The dream of visionaries materialized with the first Annual SIMLA conference in 2004, marking the commencement of regular annual conferences hosted by various southern states.
Prof. B.M. Balaraj and other senior members worked tirelessly to accumulate a corpus fund, ensuring financial stability. In 2013-14, Dr. Mahesh Krishna spearheaded a Membership drive and directed funds from the 11th Annual SIMLA conference held in Coimbatore towards the corpus, enhancing the Association’s financial capacity for diverse academic initiatives.
In 2014, Prof. G.M. Krishna Rao initiated a unique corpus fund to incentivize postgraduate students in Forensic Medicine to participate actively in the conferences and present scientific papers. The corpus interest was designated for the Prof M K R Krishnan Memorial oration and for the sustenance of the Journal of South India Medico Legal Association (J-SIMLA), a crucial platform for sharing scientific knowledge.
Under the leadership of Prof. Pradeep Kumar, the editorial team ensured the regular publication of the journal, which gained recognition from various scientific bodies.
Today, SIMLA comprises professionals from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Pondicherry, and Goa. It has also welcomed Forensic Medicine Faculty from other Indian states. The organization now operates with a core committee to oversee its growth and development.