Criminal Trial. Expert handwriting opinion can be relied only when it is supported by internal and external evidence. Law on the point discussed. Karnataka High Court.
Relevant paragraphs: 32. In the case of ‘Alamgir Vs. State [NCT, DELHI]’ [supra] it is held by the Hon’ble Apex Court that ‘experts opinion must always received with great caution and perhaps none so with more caution than the opinion of the handwriting expert. There is a profusion of presidential authority which holds that it is unsafe to base a conviction solely on experts opinion without substantial corroboration. This rule has been universally acted upon and it has almost become a rule of law. It is unsafe to treat expert handwriting opinion as sufficient basis for conviction, but it may be relied upon when supported by other items of internal and external evidence. It would be desirable to consider whether it is corroborated either by clear direct evidence or by circumstantial evidence’.
38. In the case of ‘Chennadi Jalapathi Reddy Vs. Baddam Pratapa Reddy [dead] through legal representatives and another’ [supra], relied upon by the respondent’s counsel it is once again held that the Court must be cautious while evaluating experts opinion, which is a weak type of evidence and not substantive in nature. It may not be safe to solely rely upon such evidence, and Court may seek independent and reliable corroboration in the facts of a given case, as a general rule of prudence.
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