PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT
Before :- H.R. Sodhi, J.
R.S.A. No. 1358 of 1962. D/d. 14.02.1969
Hukam Singh and others – Appellants
Versus
Smt. Udham Kaur – Respondent
For the Appellants :- Mr. C.D. Dewan and N.S. Bhatia, Advocates.
For the Respondent :- Mr. Parkash Chand Jain and G.C. Mittal, Advocates.
A. Finger-print expert – Evidence of – Evidentiary value – Issue regarding the validity of a document which purports to bear thumb impressions of an executant when those thumb impressions are denied – Evidence of thumb impression expert bound to be of great value – Science of finger-print more exact than that relating to hand-writing – Cases of comparison of finger-prints – Points of similarity and difference easily discernible – Courts must apply their mind properly to the evidence of experts in such cases.
B. Evidence – Approbation and reprobation – Trial Court letting in a certified copy of the previous deposition of a witness made in the criminal proceedings – Allowing the same to be proved by himself – Procedure not correct – He should have been examined again in regard to all that he had stated earlier in the statement made by him in the committing Court – Parties themselves allowing certain statements to be placed on the record as a part of their evidence – Cannot urge later either in the same Court or in a Court of appeal that the evidence produced was inadmissible – To allow them to do so would indeed be permitting them both to approbate and reprobate.