Expert Evidence
Expert Evidence
Expert Evidence
EXPERT EVIDENCE
Ms. Shreya Jain
Ms. Ujaala Jain
Abstract
The law of evidence is very crucial branch of law on which justice
rests. The main object of evidence is to pave way for court to come
to a conclusion regarding the present case. In certain cases where
evidence is beyond the knowledge and skill of court, evidence
create problem for court to come to any conclusion. In such
situation court takes the help of expert evidence. Expert is a
person who has high knowledge and skill in particular field.
Evidence is information given by a person that proves the
allegation to be true or false. So expert evidence is information or
statement made by a person who is specialized in that particular
field of work or which he has given that information. Expert
evidence is required to assist the court when the case before it
involves matters on which court does not have the requisite
technical or specialist knowledge. Expert evidence is corroborative
and advisory in nature. It is not binding in all the cases. Opinion
on evidence given by witness is not compulsorily binding to court.
It wholly depends on the situational circumstances whether the
expert evidence and opinion given by expert witness is relevant or
not and what is its evidentiary value. Expert witnesses are
appointed by court in only those cases where court lacks in
knowledge about the case and if court feels it necessary for the
interest of justice. There are requisite rules to be followed by
experts in giving their expert report to the court and the court
may call upon the expert for testimony. Court does not rely on
this corroborative evidence but on primary evidences-documents
itself produced for the inspection of the court. Expert evidence is
given in both civil cases as well as in criminal cases. The present
case tries to analyze the evidentiary value of expert evidence, what
is relevant and not relevant evidence, cases to consider or discard
of expert evidence, binding nature of expert evidence and possible
changes which can be brought in the field of expert evidence for
the betterment of the ends of justices.
Student, LL.B (3 year) II Semester, Bharati Vidhyapeeth Deemed University,
Pune.
Student, M.Sc Forensic Science, Gujrata Forensic Sciences University,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
5 Nilabati Behra v. State, AIR 1993 SC 1960: (1993) 2 SCC 746: 1993 Cr LJ
2899.
6 Madan Gopal v. Naval Dubey (1992) 3 SCC 204.
7 T.P. Divetia v. State, AIR 1997 SC 2193: 1997 Cr LJ 2535.
8 Prem v. Daula, AIR 1997 SC 719: (1997) 9 SCC 754: 1997 SCC (Cri) 754:
1997 Cr LJ 838.
9 State of U.P. v. Ram Sewak (2003) 2 SCC 161.
10 Ammini v. State, AIR 1998 SC 260: 1998 Cr LJ 481.
11 S.K. Belal v. State, 1994 Cr LJ 467 (Ori).
12 Jagtar Singh v. State, AIR 1993 SC 2448: 1993 Cr LJ 2886.
Finger-print expert
In case of Keshavlal v. State of M.P.18 it was held that before
the seizure of the weapon of offence, if many people have
handled it then there will be no effect of non-examination of
the finger-print expert in any way.
Handwriting expert
In case of Alamgir v. State (N.C.T. Delhi)19 it was held that
opinion of handwriting expert do not amount to conviction but
admittedly it can be relied upon when supported by other
items of internal and external evidence. In the case of Devi
Prasad v. State20, it was held that evidence given by a person
who has insufficient familiarity should be discarded. Indian
Evidence Act insists that documents either be proved by
primary evidence or by secondary evidence.
Scientific expert
The scientific evidence given in court must be either based on
scientific theory or the hypothesis and such evidence is
expected to be empirical and properly documented in
accordance with scientific method such as is applicable to the
particular field of inquiry. It is a fact that scientific evidence is
demonstrative evidence unlike oral testimony, which depends
on the deposition of a witness. Scientific methods are used to
obtain scientific evidence. Evidence should be relevant and at
the same time worthy enough to become admissible in the
courts. An expert witness is called to testify about the
reliability of the scientific evidence sought to be introduced at
trial. In the case of Pritam Singh v. State of Punjab 21 the
footprint in blood near the dead body were compared with the
footprint of accused dipped in color ink. 9 and 10 similarities
were found by the experts in right and left foot respectively of
the accused with that blood footprint. Whereas 3
dissimilarities were also found that were explained due to
difference in density of blood and ink. It was held that
comparison test stood well and footprints in blood were of
accused.